“Digger” has so many blue-chip talents on board, it’s hard to dismiss its missteps, but there are plenty.
Telling the story of oil magnate Digger Rockwell, writer/director Alejandro G. Inarritu gets in his digs at billionaires, power brokers and sycophants, but he also has stumbles when attempting to make it more than just commentary. There’s a “play within a play” format that muddies the water others attempt to clear.
It begins with a mechanical cat (Digger’s only source of comfort) and spreads to windows that look onto set pieces. Creatively, the sets are marvelous. We’re taken in by them as much as we are the story.
Digger Rockwell (right, Tom Cruise) has Dr. Berg (Ross Hatt) check on his beloved cat Maggie in "Digger."
But then, “Digger” drifts. When it’s unclear what Inarritu is trying to accomplish, there’s not enough to pull us back to want to stay. The cast is filled with scene stealers (several could be Oscar-worthy), but the story needs a rewrite.
People are also reading…
Tom Cruise is great bait. He plays Digger with such bravado that you wish he’d concentrate on fewer stunts and more character work in his other films.
Digger has a firm hand on the world’s future and isn’t ready to cede the power to anyone else. Sure, he’s old, and yes, he has plenty of money. But there’s something about controlling the president (played engagingly by John Goodman) that matters.
Tom Cruise, as Digger Rockwell, in the film "Digger."
When a mining project dislodges an iceberg the size of Maryland, folks are warned it could cause tidal waves, floods and death. Diversion could be possible, but Digger isn’t claiming full responsibility. Dependence on oil shouldn’t rest with the man who’s providing it, he insists, prompting European Parliament members to attack one another.
Just when you think resolution is imminent, Inarritu takes a sharp left turn and reveals yet another facet to his leading man.
Cruise pivots nicely, keeping Inarritu’s vision intact. Still, it’s difficult to understand what is in the crosshairs.
While climate control is a target, it’s not the only one. There are shots fired at do-gooders, politicians and billionaires. There are also moments directed at precious performers.
Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) and his sister Emma (Sandra Hüller) run very different parts of the family empire in "Digger."
Where “Digger” loses its footing is in its audience. After clear-cut films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Mission: Impossible,” viewers are attuned to getting straightforward storytelling. When it loops as this does, it’s difficult to feel criticized or praised.
Riz Ahmed plays a panicky adviser. He knows what’s wrong, but most — particularly Digger — aren’t listening. By the time Jesse Plemons appears (as Digger’s relative), we’re confused who’s leading what.
Because it takes so much effort to unpack, “Digger” isn’t the great satire its makers want it to be. Others had more success because they retained the focus. This looks all over the place and doesn’t insist you follow along.
