*Spoiler Warning*

“Digger” is one of the most alienating movies in some time. The Rotten Tomatoes score sits at 52%, with critics calling it a bold swing that sometimes misses.

“As with every time that ‘Digger’ heightens its concept even further into the stratosphere, this big reveal – which is neither the last of its kind, nor the most satisfying – is accompanied by a strange whiff of self-deprecation,” Indie Wire said.

 That self-deprecation is what makes the film stand out, and it’s not a strange whiff; it is essential to understanding the film. 

“Digger” follows Digger Rockwell, played by Tom Cruise, as he tries to stop the world from ending after his oil rig malfunctions.  

The film starts relatively simply, following Digger as he attempts to avoid any sort of repercussions for the role his drilling plays in global warming. Trying to contain this disaster is the president of the United States, played by John Goodman, and a scientist named Ganesh, played by Riz Ahmed.

Ahmed steals the film for me, as he is funny, but his character really needs to show how serious the disaster is becoming. In the first part of the film, it is played as a joke. The way the film handles this is part of why it’s so divisive as well. 

Photo courtesy of IMDb

The film also looks gorgeous. It is shot by Emmanuel Lubezki, and the way that he makes the film’s purposefully washed-out color scheme pop is really great work. The score, by Cosmo Sheldrake, is also great. It is reminiscent of last year’s “Bugonia” score, which was good.

Cruise is spectacular in this film. Many know him for jumping out of airplanes, running and doing other insane stunts, but in “Digger,” Cruise does none of this. It allows him to act on a deeper level for the first time in a while. He may be buried in pounds of makeup and prosthetics, but it’s still Tom Cruise.

What makes Cruise good in this film all comes from the twist, when it’s revealed that Cruise is playing an actor who is making a stage play based on the events of Digger Rockwell. This strange and weird concept will admittedly dishearten some people, as the movie completely turns itself on its head. 

It means that Cruise essentially is playing two roles, Digger Rockwell and the actor in the play. The way that Cruise switches between these is expertly done.

By doing this, the film becomes not just about global warming, but instead about art, and ultimately how movies don’t accomplish anything or help anyone.

This is not the first time that director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu has done something like this. “Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” also follows an actor making a film.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

What makes the movie contradictory is that it doesn’t appeal to everyone. “Digger” is at times purposefully unfunny, grating and annoying, to show that the play they are making is bad. The film goes out of its way to showcase this, and it can lead to parts that won’t work for many.

The final sequence of the film is what worked and made the film good. Seeing the world destroyed as the audience leaves the theater, it sits on a frame of this pile of cars and smog. Sitting there, you think the world really isn’t that much different from what is on screen. That realization hits: we may be past the point of no return.

“Digger” is one of the most unique films that has been in theaters in some time, reinforced by an incredible Tom Cruise performance and a good supporting cast, along with an unwavering script and expert direction from Iñárritu. “Digger” may have gotten poor reviews for now, but time will be kind to it.

Overall Rating: 9/10