I went into ‘Digger’ expecting Oscar bait, I walked out thoroughly impressed

On October 17, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's latest film, Digger, debuted to mixed reviews but left one critic thoroughly impressed. Despite Inarritu's history of mixed results with films like 21 Grams, Babel, Biutiful, and Birdman, which often felt like calculated Oscar-bait, Digger proved to be anything but. The film eschews the arthouse genre, opting instead for a savage, sprawling critique and dark satire akin to classic Hollywood masterpieces such as Dr. Strangelove or Brazil.

Tom Cruise stars as a megalomaniacal oil mogul, a role that has critics raving about his performance. Cruise shakes off his recent superheroic persona from the Mission Impossible series to embody erratic, capitalistic hubris. Rivaling Cruise's performance is the brilliant Riz Ahmed as the lead engineer, bringing a jittery foil to the narrative.

However, it's the world-building and visual language that truly sets Digger apart. The film boasts stunning art direction and set design, with a uniquely stylized visual palette that feels both grounded and surreal.

Inarritu's direction is relentless and biting, employing meta-cinematic tactics that cleverly play with the audience's perception of reality. These tactics elevate the film, transforming what could have been a cheap gimmick into an absurdly engaging experience. Supporting performances from John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, and Jesse Plemons add depth and humor to the film, serving as memorable foils to Cruise's energy.

While the film doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of our ecological hypocrisy, some purists may find its chaotic edge too cynical. Regardless, Digger stands as Inarritu's most entertaining and biting work in years, a visually breathtaking satire that proves when a director uses studio money to break free from studio conventions, the results can be truly glorious.