STORYLINE: The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything. (IMDb)

   In 1986, Tom Cruise flew to the danger zone in Top Gun.  Eight years later, in 1994, he frightened audiences in Interview with a Vampire.  He would navigate the world of secret societies in Eyes Wide Shut (1999).   In Rock of Ages (2012), he would show off his musical talents. Now, Tom Cruise returns to the big screen in Digger.

    The environment tends to be a topic in fiction films (Princess Mononoke, 1997), non fiction movies (Dark Waters, 2019), and documentary features (The Cove, 2009) alike.  Digger, with its A-list ensemble, takes the environmental theme, and dives into fiction territory.

    Digger is a strange feature to watch.  The primary story focuses on an environmental disaster, and the lengths those who created the problem go to, as they attempt to solve it while protecting themselves.  The viewer is taken out of the central story, between acts, as it is revealed this is a play rehearsal.  This creates for a unique, yet initially confusing structure to follow.

    Digger is filled with original characters, that inhabit the movie well.  They aid in establishing the very dark since of humor, in the motion picture. 

    Digger is a great bookend to director Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s Oscar winning Birdman (2014).  Both heavily rely on a Broadway play element, as part of their story.  Both talk about holding on to something you love, at all costs.  Both features have an extremely dark, and unique sense of humor.

    Digger made a strong political statement. It was a borderline preachy movie.  Had it not been as widely entertaining as it was, it would of over done it with the message, and insulted my intelligence.

    Digger is a unique dark comedy with a story line that gets broken up, every act or so, when the movie pauses to examine itself in as if it were a stage play. 

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!