Review: ‘Digger’ Struggles as a Satirical Film

The trailer for Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Digger” showcases a cast featuring Tom Cruise, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, and Jesse Plemons. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film aims to be a satire but falls short in delivering innovation and humor.

Tom Cruise undergoes a significant transformation to portray Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon. Digger is known for his attachment to wealth and his unnaturally ill cat, Maggie. Despite warnings about a crack at his drilling site in Greenland, Digger presses ahead, resulting in disaster. A crack leads to an explosion, causing an ice shelf to drift towards Europe. The potential tsunami and flooding threaten millions.

The crisis places Digger in the spotlight, prompting President Compson (John Goodman) and his cabinet to visit his estate for damage control.

The film misses its mark despite having elements of a great production. While Cruise is admired for his acting, his performance here echoes past roles, such as Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder” and Frank T.J. Mackey in “Magnolia.” Although expected to be a contender for an Oscar, both Cruise and the talented cast deliver flat performances, often resorting to hysterical shouting.

John Goodman’s portrayal of President Compson feels borrowed from Donald Trump, lacking depth. Sandra Hüller, portraying Digger’s half sister Emma, is underutilized, spending her time lamenting the global disaster’s impact on her environmental non-profit, funded by Digger.

Riz Ahmed stands out with a compelling performance as a scientist alerting to Rockwell Corp’s drilling consequences.

Iñárritu, known for “Birdman,” attempts to create impactful satire, but fails to engage viewers. The film tries to mimic Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove.” Instead, it mirrors “Don’t Look Up,” sacrificing humor for preachiness.

Visually, “Digger” shines with Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography and Cosmo Sheldrake’s score.

Despite Cruise and Iñárritu’s efforts, “Digger” disappoints compared to their past works. Viewers might prefer revisiting “Dr. Strangelove,” “Birdman,” or any of Cruise’s classics. This film stands as a significant letdown in the awards season.

“Digger” carries an R rating for pervasive language, with a runtime of 2 hours, 9 minutes, currently available in theaters.