Digger Review: Tom Cruise Attempts Kubrickian Satire in Bold, Uneven Swing

Remembering the Tom of Yesteryear

If you’ve got a few years under your belt, you might remember the old-school Tom Cruise—the one who didn’t just stick to the safest blockbuster bets but jumped into daring projects with wild directors. Yeah, sure, he still churns out copies of hits like Days of Thunder (think Top Gun meets NASCAR) and the infamous Cocktail (basically Top Gun but with less flying and more flair), but he also played ball with the likes of Oliver Stone in Born on the Fourth of July and dove deep with Paul Thomas Anderson in Magnolia. Let’s not forget his moody rendezvous with Stanley Kubrick in the 18-month-long rollercoaster of Eyes Wide Shut. It’s fair to say that even at his peak, cruising in the blockbuster fast lane, a little piece of that daring guy is still inside him, aching to come out.

What’s Up with Digger?

This brings us to Digger, a ridiculously ambitious film that swings for the fences in a way that makes you wonder if the director took a wrong turn and ended up at the goalposts in a whole different time zone. Co-written and directed by the legendary Alejandro González Iñárritu, this film bathes in Kubrickian flair, whipping up a blend of cheeky satire like Dr. Strangelove mixed with the sumptuous visuals of Barry Lyndon. It’s like a wild ride where the characters laugh all the way to the fiery pits of climate change—yeah, no nuclear holocaust here, just good ol’ environmental chaos!

More or Less?

But here’s the kicker: while the film is a heightened satire that rockets through the stratosphere like one of those crazy HALO jumps Tom does, it’s got both more and less on its mind than most. Sure, it rants about energy tycoons and society’s addiction to oil like it’s a drug deal gone wrong, but it also seems a bit confused. I mean, this is there to love our impending doom? Yikes! It might be a tightrope walk, but it’s filled with so many twists and layers that you might need a map just to navigate through it.

Meet Digger Rockwell

Enter Digger Rockwell, the oil baron with a mansion so pretentious you’d expect it in a cartoon. Picture this: his rooms are adorned with taxidermied animals that give you the heebie-jeebies, while he’s down there giving the vibes of a guy who plays Monopoly for real! The President of the United States (played by the ever-fantastic John Goodman) is just waiting around in this drab estate as Digger relishes his power. But hold that thought! Just when Digger thinks he’s got it all, a massive glacier is about to ruin his party, and let’s just say that the President’s got a project he wants to pawn off on Digger—no pressure! Oh, and did I mention? Digger’s got a cancer-riddled, robotic cat that adds to the drama.

Is It All Just for Show?

The film plays up Digger’s larger-than-life persona as he prances around like a diva, relishing every ounce of the spotlight while fully ignoring the chaos he’s part of. Tom Cruise is in fine form here, being the caricature of wealth and power greed that you love to hate. He’s got all the charisma of a movie star while balancing on the edge of sanity. Yet, the film’s clunky humor and heavy-handed anger bring down its potential. I mean, we’re supposed to laugh at this tragedy, right? Or are we supposed to be shook? Who knows?

Performance Levels: Hit or Miss?

Furthermore, the performances are a mixed bag. While some actors like Riz Ahmed (playing the conflicted scientist) give us a chuckle, others seem lost in the tonal buffet that is Digger. Cruise’s portrayal often steals the show, but it’s like a whole genre of cinema is going on with each actor doing their own thing and the screenplay just throwing in random plot points at every turn. It’s a bit chaotic when all’s said and done!

In Conclusion

So where do we land with Digger? Despite its audacity and high stakes, it feels a bit like a flashy show without a clear message, much like Cruise’s alter-ego Riggan Thompson in Birdman. Between the dramatic aims and frantic commentary, it sometimes stumbles over its own feet. It’s interesting and keeps your eyes glued to the screen, but deep down you can’t help but feel it didn’t quite hit the bullseye. Tom may have aimed for an artistic masterpiece here, but it still leaves us wanting a little more—like a leading man trapped in a role too big for him.

Digger hits theaters on Friday, Oct. 2. Grab your popcorn, because you’re in for a wild ride!