Tom Cruise goes full clown in Digger. It might be his best work yet

Paris, September 30 — Tom Cruise has taken on one of his most challenging roles in decades with the dark comedy Digger, which has been met with mixed reviews from critics. The film, backed by a reported budget of US$130 million and an extensive advertising campaign, is directed by multi-Oscar-winning Mexican auteur Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

Cruise, 64, plays a mining and oil magnate grappling with an environmental crisis and his own conscience. The original screenplay saw him as a complex character wrestling with the consequences of his wealth and business practices. Cruise recently told GQ magazine that the film represents the culmination of his skills and is the most challenging character he has ever portrayed.

Initial reactions to the film were mixed, with online audiences divided over the melodramatic performances and Inarritu's satirical take on the billionaire class and climate change activism. However, full reviews have been largely negative, with Rotten Tomatoes giving the movie a low 53 percent rating. The BBC described it as a "love-it-or-hate-it folly," while Hollywood industry magazines varied in their opinions, with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter criticizing it as "ponderous" and "shallow."

Cruise's co-star, Shah Rukh Khan, praised his performance as "a head-spinning performance for the ages." Critics have lauded Cruise's acting, but industry magazines have dismissed the film as "a ponderous absurdist lecture" and "a shallow satire." The movie appears to be a departure from Cruise's usual action roles, with A.S Hamrah, a film critic and author, suggesting that Cruise is looking for new challenges as he ages and considers working with other directors.

The film may also be an awards season player, potentially giving Cruise a shot at an elusive Oscar for best actor, with his memorable 10-minute monologue in the middle of the film being a strong moment.