.png){kind=logo}
Tom Cruise delivers an unusual performance that moves considerably away from his familiar action-hero screen persona.
Alejandro González Iñárritu combines dark humour, satire and environmental themes to examine greed, capitalism and human denial.
Riz Ahmed and the supporting cast add depth to a film built around ambitious ideas.
Tom Cruise has spent decades jumping off cliffs, flying planes, and running towards danger. In ‘Digger’, he takes a different kind of risk. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film puts Cruise in the role of an eccentric oil tycoon and uses his larger-than-life screen image to tell a dark, strange, and often funny story about greed and environmental destruction. It is an unusual film, and Cruise is at the centre of almost all of it.
Cruise plays ‘Digger’ Rockwell, a third-generation oil tycoon who seems almost incapable of accepting that his world is falling apart. Even as an environmental crisis unfolds around him, Rockwell continues to believe in his business, wealth, and the idea that everything can somehow be fixed.
What makes the performance interesting is how far Cruise moves away from the familiar Tom Cruise persona. He is deliberately awkward, exaggerated, and almost cartoonish. The physical transformation also adds to the effect. This isn't the impossibly fit action hero audiences usually see; it is Cruise willingly making himself look ridiculous for the character, and surprisingly, it works.
The performance does not always ask the audience to like Rockwell. Instead, it asks us to watch him and understand how someone can become so invested in a particular version of reality that even obvious warning signs fail to change his mind.
Also Read: ‘Unabomber’ Review: Jacob Tremblay Leads an Uneven True-Crime Drama
Iñárritu clearly isn't interested in subtlety here. ‘Digger’ takes aim at capitalism, politics, corporate greed and environmental damage, often pushing each idea until it becomes absurd.
That approach will work for some viewers and irritate others. Early reviews have already been sharply divided, with some critics praising the film's ambition while others have found it heavy-handed and self-important.
The film becomes more interesting when it shifts its attention towards art itself. Without getting too deep into spoilers, the story introduces a play within the film and begins asking why artists tell difficult stories through satire.
Is making people laugh enough when the reality being discussed is genuinely painful? That question gives ‘Digger’ more depth than its outrageous surface initially suggests.
Riz Ahmed brings much-needed grounding to the film as Ganesh, a scientist and Rockwell's adviser. While Cruise embraces the film's larger-than-life tone, Ahmed gives the audience someone who can push back against it.
John Goodman also makes an impression as the US President, while Sandra Hüller brings another dimension to Rockwell's complicated family dynamic. The supporting cast generally understands the unusual tone Iñárritu is aiming for.
Visually, the film is equally ambitious. Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography gives the movie a theatrical quality, with long takes and elaborate sets adding to the feeling that we are watching both a film and a stage performance. The production design is particularly striking, while the background score uses everyday sounds to create a growing sense of unease.
Also Read: ‘The Love Hypothesis’ Review: Cast, Story, Ending, Rating Explained
‘Digger’ is not an easy film to categorise, and it certainly won't work for everyone. At times, the satire feels too obvious, and the film seems determined to make sure the audience understands every point it is making. But it is rarely boring, and there is genuine ambition behind its excesses.
Most importantly, Cruise steps outside the image he has carefully built for decades. Watching him play a flawed, absurd and occasionally uncomfortable character is probably the biggest surprise of the film.
‘Digger’ may not always know when to stop making its point, but its ambition, performances and sheer willingness to take risks make it worth watching.
What is ‘Digger’ about?
‘Digger’ follows an eccentric oil tycoon confronting environmental destruction, wealth, corporate interests and personal denial as Alejandro González Iñárritu blends satire with drama.
Who stars in ‘Digger’?
Tom Cruise leads the cast as Digger Rockwell, alongside Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Sandra Hüller in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s ambitious film.
How is Tom Cruise’s performance in ‘Digger’?
Tom Cruise delivers an unusually eccentric performance, moving away from his familiar action-hero image and embracing a flawed, exaggerated character with dramatic and comedic elements.
Who directed ‘Digger’?
Alejandro González Iñárritu directed ‘Digger’, bringing his distinctive filmmaking style to a story combining dark humour, environmental themes, capitalism and questions surrounding artistic expression.
Is ‘Digger’ worth watching?
‘Digger’ is worth considering for viewers interested in unconventional cinema, Tom Cruise’s unusual performance and ambitious satire, although its heavy-handed approach may not appeal universally.
