Is Digger the most divisive film of the year ?
A stunt ?
A vanity project ?
A cinematic hoax ?
A future cult masterpiece and a visionary film ?
Give it a try in the cinemas and don't let the trailer fool you, there's a gimmick yes but the filmmakers asked us not to spolier the film -those who reead my blog know that I hardly mention plots and the story of the film I am 'reviewing' here.
I am happy that I liked it, went with a lot of sketicism and came out Happy ! or maybe, Happy is not the right word, it's an intense, deep, layered piece of masterful cinema !
...and I must say I am neither a Tom Cruise or Alejandro Iñárritu fan !
Described as a 'comedy of catastrophic promoportions' the film is more than that, from farce to satire to Meta and Meta Meta cinema. It's been Iñárritu's project for 10 years and Cruise came onboard in 2019.
To enhance and perfect the story Iñárritu worked with at least 5 screenwriters (that's what's credited onscreen).
It's also gonna be the last film released by the Warner Bros. studios in thier 103 years long run, before the infamous merger upcoming. It was not planned this way but it works as a super-expensive subversive goodbye F88k You !
I mostly agree with Mark Kermode video review. I disagree on the point that you'd definetly read more and different into the film into a second viewing but who would ever wanna do that ? And with his conclusion. (also I disagree on his opinion of Eyes Wide Shut. My main problem with that film was Tom Cruise but he is making that film go).
I will see it a second time. I'm sure it will be even better.
*went and did that. And it was even better, another layer of filmmaking, other small discoveries. It's a see more, more to discover reward, I guess I'll go again in a while ;)
You can read the whole thing through the perception of the cat story (Empathise 'Perception'). I think it's the most important clue in the world of Digger Rockwell, as a crazy Rosebud of this film subtext.
The acting ensemble is sensational, Riz Ahmed should won supporting actor Oscar (Tom Cruise surely will be shunned!), John Goodman as hammy as Slim Pickens was in Strangelove (he definetly deserves an Oscar too), Michael Stuhlbarg, Robert John Burke, Sandra Hüller, Burn Gorman, Emma D'Arcy, Pip Torrens and a very interesting part for Jesse Plimons.
I'd give a clue on some influences: obviously Iñárritu's own Birdman, Kubrick's Dr. Strangleove, Charlie Kaufman's “Synecdoche, New York.” and as observed as planted clues onscreen (as posters), Lubitsch with To Be or Not To Be and John Cassavetes' Opening Night. Parts look like a Wes Anderson film, parts like Coen bros, that's because of emulating Classic screwball comedies from the 30's Roy Andersson (the UN council scene), even a wink to Cuaron's Children of Men. And shades of Citizen Kane. And Monty Python !
Guillermo De Toro says it best: " Love it or not. And, yes, I do. The film delivers in scale, ambition and reach at a theatrical screen level. Daring, bold and cinematically complex. Decidedly a theatrical experience."
4 1/2 stars out of 5 / 9 out of 10 !!!
*The most cinematic experience you can have now in cinemas, also watch for HOPE and RESIDENT EVIL and if you are a dog lover go and weep at Heart of the Beast !
**
Loved the Yosihiro Nakayama pun ! The guy with the tuna story who is actually a climate scientist.
***
The UN scene -esp. the one-shot-bravura on steadycam is one of the best shots in recent cinema history, film school 101.
****I rarely say (write) this, but I wished the film was even longer. I saw some shots from the trailer/teaser that did not make it into the final theatrical cut.
