Writer/Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu
Starring: Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed and John Goodman
‘A Spectacular Satire’
Few actors in Hollywood have created movies making headline news like Tom Cruise. Shining bright light in darkness, Cruise has become an icon in a risky business. On a personal level, I have always admired the movie-star accomplishing missions that are impossible. At an early age, I bonded with a father that loved seeing the actor face collateral damage. As passionate as Jerry Maguire, he would always admire an actor asking to be shown money with ability to inspire. Drawn towards the need for speed, he would always love to read news about an actor with a desire to succeed. Among a few good men I know, my father gave me dreams to follow. I would enjoy embarking on trips to the theatre to see Tom Cruise films with a father I treasure. My father’s dreams came true when he got to see the actor at a special screening avenue. During one of our most memorable trips to the theatre, my dad and I had the good fortune of seeing the actor. In a surprise screening, Cruise appeared in front of a packed audience that erupted in a loud round of applause which proved deafening. A memorable incident, seeing his favourite icon in the world of entertainment up close left my father in a state of utter astonishment. However, work responsibilities brought my father’s love for the actor to a closure. Facing a war of the worlds against demanding jobs, he lost interest in a movie-star he once found inspiring. As he faced one battle after another, my father lost his love for an actor that he used to treasure. Keeping eyes wide shut to movies, he put all time and energy into a job requiring high responsibility. His devotion towards his career at expense of everything cast our relationship into oblivion. Years later, I treasure an actor that’s become a heartwarming reminder of my father.
Now, Cruise is back on the big-screen and his strengths as an actor are evident in his latest film “Digger”. Released in 2026, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s latest movie captures climate catastrophe. Packed with breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a spectacular satire. At the centre of it is Tom Cruise, who embodies an oil tycoon facing issues. Although “Digger” is entertaining, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, building an ambiguous ending. Nevertheless, it offers stirring entertainment for fans of Tom Cruise.
“Digger” follows a political leader that strives to save the world from climate disaster. Tom Cruise embodies Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon with desire to excel. Assisted by U.S. President Compson (John Goodman), Digger thrives at taking care of his nation. However, Digger’s life changes when he’s tasked with saving humanity from dangerous climate disaster. Facing a climate crisis, Digger questions whether his goals are possible to accomplish.
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu is fascinated by hardships artists go through. His Oscar-winning movie “Birdman” offered powerful portraits of Broadway actors struggling to achieve their plan. With “Digger”, however, Innaritu created his first climate satire. It’s the filmmaker’s attempt satirizing climate catastrophe but he succeeds. Evoking Brian DePalma’s “Mission: Impossible”, Innaritu effectively uses low-key lighting to capture a politician seeking to accomplish a mission that’s impossible. For instance, low-key lighting elevates the performance scene. During this memorable scene, Digger delivers a memorable performance to a sold out audience. It brought back fond memories of my experience seeing Tom Cruise at a special screening with a father I loved dearly. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique. As Michael Mann’s “Collateral” suggested, low-key lighting elevates crime films about L.A. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Using stunning visuals, Innaritu captures hardships political leaders are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Digger” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive films Cruise has ever made. Evoking Cameron Crowe’s “Jerry Maguire”, Innaritu uses sound-design of phone calls to capture businessmen facing circumstances that are dire. For instance, diegetic sound-design elevates the daughter phone call scene. During this intense scene, Digger has an anxiety-inducing phone call with his wife showing concern over their estranged daughter’s safety. It reminded me of my broken bond with a father that deteriorated when he relocated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Cosmo Sheldrake’s music contributes to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing a burden political leaders bear. Through gorgeous production, Innaritu captures climate destruction.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Digger” is a political satire that’s compelling. Throughout his career, Cruise has made flawed movies about fathers that fail to care for children. For instance, Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds” depicted frustrated fathers facing a war of the worlds saving children from an alien invasion. Thankfully, though, “Digger” avoids these pitfalls. Evoking Rob Reiner’s “A Few Good Men”, Innaritu effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture emotions faced by fathers under pressure. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the political speech scene. During this rousing scene, Digger delivers a speech expressing his frustration with being a father in a political rally. It reminded me of my father’s worldviews concerning his profession about which he felt conflicted. Dramatic monologues are tricky techniques. As Joseph Kosinski’s “Oblivion” suggested, monologues elevate post-apocalyptic sci-fi movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Innaritu honours a movie-star that’s beloved today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best performances as Digger Rockwell. Cruise achieved appreciation for playing heroes in blockbusters. With “Digger”, however, he takes on his most satirical role. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and unrecognizable in his most transformative role. Evoking Christian Bale in Adam McKay’s “Vice”, Cruise embodies a controversial politician that faces a painful price. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, frustrations and greed of a politician seeking to save the world from destruction. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest movie-stars today.
While the movie is a showcase for Cruise, the supporting cast is also spectacular. John Goodman is fantastic, bringing comical relief to a reckless president struggling to run his nation. Riz Ahmed is remarkable, humanizing a scientist warning the world about disaster. Lastly, Jesse Plemons merits appreciation. As a TV producer, he is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Digger” can’t quite capture the realities of a climate disaster. Innaritu’s decision to integrate subplots about missing daughters into the movie is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes that capture Digger’s search for his missing daughter aren’t as engaging as his journey to become a political leader. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” suggested, subplots about missing daughters elevate satires about American revolutionaries. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an ambiguous conclusion that fails to bring the movie to a satisfying resolution. At worst, it perpetuates false messages about climate change that aren’t true to reality. Whereas this ambiguous ending elevated Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. Therefore, “Digger” can’t quite capture the painful realities of climate disasters that pose danger.
Nevertheless, fans of Tom Cruise will definitely appreciate “Digger” and so would audiences seeking exhilarating entertainment. A spectacular political satire, it honours an actor that audiences admire.
Nearly 40 years after Tom Cruise accomplished an impossible mission in a risky business earning recognition, it’s a towering tribute towards a legendary movie-star with a collateral reputation whose movies deserve appreciation.
As strong as Digger’s desires to save the world from a disaster, it has motivated me to move on years after parting ways with a father that experienced a war of the worlds by treasuring heartwarming memories of a caregiver whose love for a commemorated actor inspired me to achieve impossible missions of being a writer.
4/5 stars
