Tom Cruise gets bold – and brilliant – in ‘Digger’

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: Mexican director Alejandro G Iñárritu’s films are not for everybody, and some have proved divisive among critics and audiences.

His latest, “Digger”, starring action superstar Tom Cruise, might be the most divisive of all. Heck, even movie aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a score of just 51%.

If you have watched Iñárritu’s 2015 “Birdman”, “Digger” may give you familiar flashbacks, particularly in its blurring of the surreal and hyperreal, larger-than-life world, theatricality and a protagonist you can’t decide whether to love or hate. Not that these are necessarily bad things. More on that later.

“Digger”, which also stars Riz Ahmed and John Goodman, follows oil tycoon Digger Rockwell (Cruise), whose reckless drilling triggers a global environmental catastrophe. As governments scramble to contain the fallout, Digger attempts to recast himself as humanity’s saviour.

This 129-minute darkly comic satire tackles big issues such as greed, climate change, power and humanity’s desperate need to control the uncontrollable. For Malaysians grappling with a worsening haze, its environmental themes may feel particularly close to home.

“Digger” asks a lot from its audience. For a film that feels like a play given a blockbuster upgrade, however, those demands are warranted.

It asks viewers to see the outside world as the characters do: a series of beautifully surreal paintings. Whenever a character looks out a window, for instance, the frame around it is ornate, almost like a painting.

You may even wonder why a big-budget film like “Digger” employs scenery that, at first glance, looks fake. Stick around, and the reasons become clear.

The film also asks viewers to immerse themselves in its satire, which may not always elicit laughter. But satire need not be purely comedic. Here, the over-the-top characters and elaborate mise-en-scène force viewers to think about the real world.

Goodman’s President Compson is a prime example. Farcical and almost cartoonish at times, he hardly exudes the intelligence expected of a world leader. Sounds familiar? Funnily enough, Cruise’s character even points this out.

This may explain why some audiences struggle to connect with the film. Its satire can feel self-indulgent and so self-aware that it borders on pretentious. Even the physical comedy – the squeaking shoes, the dropping lamp and precisely timed character entrances – can make you wonder whether Iñárritu is showing off just a little too much.

Then there’s the biggest element of them all: Cruise. It has been decades since we have seen him take on a role that is purely character-driven, divorced from the action sequences many have come to love and expect. Here, he is completely transformed as Rockwell, with a Southern swagger, noticeable Texan accent, heavier physique and aged, pale face.

In one remarkable scene, Cruise delivers an almost 12-minute monologue in a single take. For those 12 minutes, you forget the death-defying stunts and see an actor completely immersed in his craft.

Iñárritu’s decision to straddle the real and make-believe worlds is arguably one of “Digger’s” best features. He cleverly sucks you into its surreal reality before pulling the rug from beneath you. Suddenly, you find yourself looking at two different worlds, giving you a strangely detached perspective on the issues at the heart of the film.

Yes, the meta element can feel self-indulgent. But is that necessarily a bad thing? The film’s runtime may seem bloated for a story of this nature and moves at a pace that may test modern audiences. But does that automatically make it bad?

Visually, “Digger” is dreamlike. Its ensemble delivers stellar performances, while Iñárritu ultimately presents a world people may be heading towards if they continue ignoring the state of the planet.

And if you walk out of the cinema pondering this, then “Digger” has done its job. For many, that’s the makings of a good film.

As of press time, ‘Digger’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.

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