Review: Tom Cruise and Iñárritu's 'Digger' is a messy political satire

Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new film "Digger" fails to deliver on its promise as a political satire, earning a scathing review that describes it as a grandiose and messy misfire. The critique argues that despite high-profile talent and technical craftsmanship, the movie lacks the innovation and humor required for a great satire, positioning it as one of the biggest disappointments of the awards season.

In the film, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon who is nearly unrecognizable under heavy prosthetics. The character is defined by his affection for his wealth and his chronically ill robotic-like cat, Maggie, and his refusal to accept warnings about the dangers of his drilling operations in Greenland. When a crack at the site leads to a massive explosion and an ice shelf breakaway, the resulting tsunami threat endangers tens of millions of Europeans, placing Rockwell Corp at the center of an international crisis.

The review highlights that while the film has the components of a strong production, the performances fall short. Cruise's portrayal is criticized as a mishmash of his previous roles, including Les Grossman in "Tropic Thunder" and Frank T.J. Mackey in "Magnolia." Although the role was positioned as a potential Oscar contender for Cruise, the top-tier cast is described as delivering one-note performances that rely heavily on hysterical yelling. John Goodman appears as President Compson, a character who borrows elements from Donald Trump but lacks nuance, while Oscar-nominated German actress Sandra Hüller is considered wasted in her role as Digger's half-sister Emma. Hüller's character spends her screen time complaining about the impact of the disaster on her environmental non-profit, which is funded by Digger anyway.

Riz Ahmed provides the only compelling performance as a soft-spoken scientist who has been warning about the consequences of Rockwell Corp's costly drilling. Iñárritu, known for directing and co-writing the 2014 Best Picture winner "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," attempts bold narrative risks but ultimately fails to engage the audience. The film is compared unfavorably to Adam McKay's 2021 satire "Don't Look Up," with both films sacrificing humor for over-the-top preachiness. While "Digger" tries to emulate Stanley Kubrick's 1964 classic "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," it instead resembles the insufferable tone of "Don't Look Up."

The review acknowledges the film's technical strengths, citing stunning visuals from Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and a whimsical score by Cosmo Sheldrake. However, these elements do not redeem what is described as a mess of a film that is unworthy of the work typically associated with Cruise and Iñárritu. Viewers are advised to revisit "Dr. Strangelove," "Birdman," or other Cruise classics instead. "Digger" is rated R for pervasive language and has a running time of 2 hours and 9 minutes, and it is currently in theaters.