FILM REVIEW: DIGGER (15) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
The most polarising film of the year?
It’s been such a surreal year for cinema. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written: ‘This is Marmite. People are going to love it or hate it.’
Well, I’m going to say it again. In fact, Digger might be the most ‘Marmite’ film of the year.
Since its release, I’ve seen major critics giving it everything from glowing four and five-star reviews to absolute one and two-star maulings.
Having now seen it for myself, I can genuinely understand both sides.
Helmed by Oscar winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant), this satirical drama follows Tom Cruise’s Digger Rockwell, an enormously powerful businessman whose actions have helped push the world towards environmental catastrophe. Now determined to prove he can also be the man to save it, Rockwell sets out on a rather extraordinary mission. Cruise is joined by a brilliant cast including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
That’s about as much as I can tell you without spoiling anything.
What I will say is that something happens before the halfway point that completely changes what Digger is. Suddenly, you realise that almost everything you’ve been sold through the trailers and marketing has, in a sense, been a lie.
This is not the film you think it is.
Usually, I hate trailers deliberately misleading audiences. Here, though, it was essential. Knowing where this film is heading would completely ruin one of its biggest moments.
And that moment is dividing people.
You’re either going to run with it or sit there thinking: ‘Oh, is this what we’re doing now?’ I can understand both reactions. Personally, I was quite into it. I loved the audacity of pulling the rug out from underneath the audience and forcing us to reassess everything we’d just watched.
More than anything, I admire that Digger is trying something different. It’s weird, ambitious, politically charged and certainly an experience you will want to talk about. In a world of sequels, remakes and cinematic universes, I’ll always have respect for any film taking such a massive swing.
Whether that swing completely connects is another matter.
One recurring criticism is that the film becomes preachy. That didn’t particularly bother me. I’d compare it to Don’t Look Up in that sense. If you enjoyed that movie and didn’t feel like you were repeatedly being hit over the head with its message, you’ll probably be fine here too.
My problem wasn’t the politics or even the preaching. I actually thought the message was important – it was the repetition.
Once Digger has made its point, it makes it again. Then again. And then, just in case someone at the back didn’t hear it, one more time. For such an ambitious film, it becomes surprisingly one-note, and there were stretches where I found myself ‘drifting’ because I already understood exactly what it wanted me to understand.
Now, let’s talk about Tom Cruise.
Firstly, I find it hilarious that he needed some fairly extreme makeup to play a character only a few years older than he is in real life. Respect.
As for the performance itself, does this occasionally scream: ‘Please give the man an Oscar!’ Absolutely.
But that’s fine, because he’s bloody good in it. Cruise completely throws himself into the role, and it’s refreshing seeing him disappear into a character rather than hanging off the side of another aircraft. Even when I wasn’t completely sold on the film around him, I was completely sold on his performance. I wouldn’t be remotely surprised to see him picking up some serious awards attention.
And, of course, this is the director who finally got Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar with The Revenant, so Cruise has certainly chosen someone with form.
Ultimately, I understand the wildly different reactions to Digger. I understand those praising it for being bold, original and uncompromising, and those who found it smug, repetitive or exhausting.
I’m somewhere in the middle.
I loved that it tried something new. I loved the audacity of its big reveal, and Cruise gives it absolutely everything. I could see exactly what Iñárritu was going for. I just think the execution could have been better.
Digger certainly digs deep. I just wish it knew when to stop digging.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Burn Gorman & Jesse Plemons
Running Time: 2 Hrs 9 Mins
Director: Alejandro G Inarritu
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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