When I first heard about Digger I imagined it would be another film about a powerful businessman whose greed brings him trouble.. Digger does something different, It turns that idea into something bigger, darker and honestly quite absurd in its own way.
The story follows Digger Rockwell, played by Tom Cruise, an very rich oil magnate, Digger Rockwell’s business actions eventually cause an environmental disaster.
Digger is a man who is used to getting what he wants, he has money, influence, strong connections and a confidence that he can solve any problem, unfortunately his confidence is part of the problem.
Digger’s drilling operations in Greenland help start a chain of events, A huge chunk of ice breaks off.....threatens Europe, suddenly the damage caused by Digger’s business can no longer be ignored, lives are at risk cities face destruction, the world looks for answers.
Instead of simply accepting responsibility for what he has done, he becomes desperate to prove that he is humanity’s savior, imagine causing a problem and then positioning yourself as the hero who will rescue everybody, that is the kind of situation Digger finds himself in!
As the crisis grows, political leaders and powerful people become involved, John Goodman plays the president, Compson, who faces the difficult task of responding to a disaster with huge consequences, Discussions about the crisis become increasingly absurd with officials thinking of solutions while worrying about politics, public opinion and who will take the blame.
Riz Ahmed plays Dr. Nirav Ganesh, an expert who understands how serious the situation is, Meanwhile Sandra Hüller plays Emma Rockwell, Digger’s sister and business partner, she has a relationship with the family business and its environmental consequences.
Just when you think you understand where Digger is going, it introduces an unexpected twist, the story you have been watching is revealed to be part of a stage production called Fossil Fools.
Tom Cruise’s character, Digger Rockwell is being portrayed by an actor named Curtis Markson,Digger shifts between the disaster being performed onstage and the lives of the people who bring that production to life.
This twist changes how we understand everything that came before it, he is no longer about an oil billionaire causing an environmental catastrophe, he also questions how society turns disasters into entertainment, how powerful people escape accountability and whether telling a story about a problem is enough to change anything.
The play itself reaches a conclusion but the ending leaves us with another uncomfortable reality, even when people recognize the truth and try to expose it the damage happening outside the theatre does not magically disappear.
For me the interesting thing about Digger is its message about greed, power and environmental responsibility. Digger shows how people can cause damage and still try to control the story so that they look like heroes.
Digger is not your regular Tom Cruise action movie, this movie is strange, dark, political and filled with humor, if you enjoy movies that criticize people and make you think about the world we live in this one is worth exploring, just be ready, for a storyline that takes an unexpected turn.
Rating: 80/100
