Digger - Harry Review - 7/10
Digger, Digger, Digger…. what a shame. I had such high hopes here for this one. It has so much going for it. Tom Cruise in a Les Grossman/Daniel Plainview-esque role; check. Double Oscar winning Alejandro González Iñárritu in the director seat; check. A modern Dr Strangelove vibe about climate crisis and the ineptitude and greed of those in power; big check! But what follows is not the film which was promised for large portions of the film.
I won’t spoil it here, but a significant twist within Digger, which is kept away from the marketing, for me ends up kneecapping Digger whenever it starts to gain steam. Said twist, acts more like a crutch to the film, especially in the first half before the film has played all its cards. The film uses this to offer a more direct commentary on a film which just didn’t need it. This is not a subtle film. By pivoting the way it does, it pulls a not-so-subtle acknowledgement of its sins. Think Nick Offerman in 21/22 Jump Street, but much less effective. By the end of the film, when all has been laid bare, it does sit a bit better than its initial reveal, but not by much.
However, when Digger is good, Digger is really bloody good. Tom Cruise puts in the work here. It’s great to see him flex his acting muscles after years of mainly similar characters. The last film I can remember him really going for it in this way, was American Made, which came out nine years a go! Cruise is electric throughout the runtime, as the scummy, enigmatic oilman. He has a monologue roughly midway through the film, which, had the film been better and more people seen it, would have entered into legendary scene status. Alas, unless the film has a second wind on streaming, it feels destined to fall through the cracks. It’s some of the best Cruise has been in his whole career during this scene, whilst offering up sharp criticism of the public’s willingness to “go green”.
Digger is also pretty funny in places when it’s focusing on the film it told everyone it was. The supporting cast all put in pretty decent performances, specifically Riz Ahmed as the films only morale compass. All aspects hold up well with sold direction, editing and sound and cinematography. This was a film made for the big screen. The script is what has let the film down.
To be clear, Digger is a GOOD film, but it could have been a great one. It shot for the stars, but instead made it only about as far as our messed-up o-zone layer.
Harry - 7/10
What Harry lacks in writing credentials, he makes up for in passion for the subject at hand. The MultiMediaVerse venture isn’t something that sustains us with life’s needs and serves more as a passion project (currently) for us, so if our various contents feel a little rough and ready, that’s because they are! Any feedback is always welcome and we hope you enjoy reading our articles.
