Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc gave students at the University an exclusive opportunity Sept. 22 with an early screening of “Digger,” directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, at Violet Crown Cinema. This was part of a series of limited free advance student screenings that Warner Bros. held at universities during the week ahead of the film’s Friday release. The venue was packed with students of all years as they grabbed their popcorn, drinks and free hats in anticipation of the movie starting.
“Digger” follows oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, played by Tom Cruise, as he deals with a potential world-altering catastrophe. One of his oil rigs explodes in Greenland, sending an iceberg toward Europe that could potentially cause a tsunami and kill thousands. For Rockwell and President Compson, played by John Goodman, however, the more immediate concern is the economic crisis the disaster could create. Ultimately, Rockwell is tasked with figuring out how to get the United States and the rest of the world out of this mess.
During the film's promotion it was described as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions,” and in many ways, it delivers. During the first 30 minutes of the film, it feels like a similar comedic experience to something like “Dr. Strangelove” by Stanley Kubrick, especially when the president interacts with Rockwell and other government officials. The humor throughout the movie is off-kilter and dark, making the audience potentially feel guilty for laughing at what is happening on screen given the seriousness of the subject.
However, beneath its dark comedy, the film explores unexpectedly serious themes, adding new dimensions to what initially appears to be an absurd story. As the film unfolds, its humor takes on greater meaning, encouraging audiences to look beyond its comedy and consider grander themes about consumption and greed.
The film’s deeper themes also give the cast opportunities to show different sides of their performances. More specifically, Tom Cruise, who of late has been recognized for many of his action roles, gets the opportunity to play a dramatically different character in “Digger.”
Cruise delivers an impressive performance alongside the rest of the cast. A consistent challenge audiences may often have is separating A-list actors like Tom Cruise from the character they are playing. But in “Digger”, Cruise truly disappears beneath the makeup and falls into this ignorant, over-the-top, manipulative and massively entertaining oil tycoon. The scene that fully encapsulates this is the more than 10-minute monologue that Rockwell gives to a crowd of European politicians, where Cruise captures the audience's full attention.
As chaos ensues, the rest of the cast gets opportunities to shine. Riz Ahmed gives a standout performance as the weary, serious and hilarious scientist Ganesh. His relationship with Rockwell throughout the film is one of the film’s strongest as they argue and decide how to best handle the catastrophe and what it means for the world to know the truth.
Another actor who does incredibly well is John Goodman, who delivers a hilarious depiction of an over-the-top president. Nearly every scene he appears in gets major laughs from the audience, as his serious delivery of absurd lines makes his character even funnier. Goodman never plays the character as if he is in on the joke, which makes his performance especially effective. His completely straight-faced approach to the increasingly ridiculous situations around him becomes one of the film’s most consistent sources of comedy.
The cinematography matches the over-the-top nature of both Rockwell and the story, using majestic sets, dramatic effects and theatrical visuals to make the film feel as larger-than-life as its central character. The film’s lighting is equally striking, with carefully chosen hues that give each scene its own atmosphere and deepen the film’s grandiose visual style. The colors and set design feel incredibly purposeful, particularly in the film's use of natural motifs and set designs that reflect its broader focus on humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
This is on full display in scenes following Rockwell in his mansion, which is so large that it would seem ghostly if not for all the over-the-top and lavish things he keeps inside. The house is filled with cool tones. It does not feel warm, but rather cold, distant and uninviting, reflecting the imperfect and lonely life that Rockwell leads. His wealth gives him everything physically, but the space around him emphasizes how little emotional warmth exists within it. Even outside the house, the surrounding grass appears dead and barren, while the greenhouse inside seems to be one of the most neglected spaces on the property. The contrast between the lifeless landscape and the neglected greenhouse adds another dimension to the film’s recurring relationship between wealth, isolation and nature.
Additionally, high-stress scenes such as those with Cruise confronting ired politicians feel enclosed and claustrophobic. Throughout the film, the framing and camera work emphasize the larger-than-life nature of Rockwell and the world around him. At times, Rockwell appears small and overwhelmed by the chaos surrounding him, while other moments use expansive sets and dramatic camera movements to make him appear vastly powerful. These shifts in scale complement the film’s surreal, theatrical atmosphere.
Much of the movie tackles incredibly topical themes, including money-hungry politicians, inconsiderate billionaires, a manipulated populace and the future consequences of using fossil fuels. The movie thus confronts the role of satire in a world going through crisis through its own satirical takes. “Digger” asks audiences to question how they should respond to tragedy, whether through laughter, grief or simply confronting it and whether art can help us find meaning and healing in the face of tragedy.
“Digger” takes audiences through a surreal, confusing, hilarious and dark rabbit hole, ultimately leaving more questions than answers about the role of art and how society finds meaning in tragedy. It is a film that asks its audience to look beyond the absurdity on screen and consider why we laugh at tragedy in the first place.
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