Key facts
- "Digger" has grossed $20 million globally on its opening weekend against a budget of $125 million.
- Tom Cruise stars as an actor portraying a character named Digger Rockwell in a satirical play called "Fossil Fools."
- The film's narrative twist reveals that the events depicted are part of a play, with the characters being actors.
- Jesse Plemons plays Kenny, the nephew of the real Digger Rockwell, who reveals the play is set 25 years after a global tragedy.
- Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu conceived the character of Digger after finishing "The Revenant."
Alejandro G. Iñárritu's latest film, "Digger," has opened to polarized reviews and a disappointing box office performance, grossing only $20 million globally on its opening weekend against a substantial $125 million budget. The film, which stars Tom Cruise, is described as closer to absurdist theater than satire and deliberately keeps the audience off-balance with its excesses.
Initially, the reviewer was intrigued by the trailer, which featured a nearly unrecognizable Tom Cruise and evoked "Doctor Strangelove" vibes, especially given Iñárritu's directorial pedigree. However, the film diverged significantly from expectations, not aiming to be a climate change satire.
The narrative twist reveals that the events surrounding Digger Rockwell and his drilling operation in Greenland are part of a satirical play, "Fossil Fools." Tom Cruise plays Curtis Markson, an actor portraying Digger, and the other characters are also actors in the final dress rehearsal. The play is set 25 years after a devastating global tragedy, and the character Kenny, played by Jesse Plemons, reveals that the play serves as a cathartic outlet for those who lost loved ones.
Despite the film's polarizing nature and commercial struggles, the reviewer champions it, highlighting Cruise's "phenomenal" and "transformative" performance. The set design is noted for its "stage-y" quality, reminiscent of Wes Anderson but more worn. The film's "spine" is considered to be a 10-minute monologue by Digger, though it is described as somewhat ham-fisted and lengthy. The reviewer acknowledges that the film's unconventional approach and excesses are likely to alienate a portion of the audience.