I’ll get right to it. Digger is a work of art. Up until a week ago, I had no interest in seeing this movie. The trailers were terrible. I finally decided to give it a shot based on director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s track record. It was the right choice.
It is difficult to talk about the movie without spoiling things. If you have to compare it to something, films like 12 Monkeys, Brazil, Birdman, and Doctor Strangelove obviously come to mind. Honestly, the less you know the better.
The film is sold as a comedy, but it’s not. It’s not even really a satire. Like I said earlier, it’s a work of art. Art is subjective. I’ll leave the labeling up to you.
If you like films with layers, go see it. If you like films that challenge you, go see it. It was definitely created to be watched with an audience at the theater. It’s pretty abrasive right out of the gate, and watching it at home, you might be tempted to turn it off. That would be a mistake. This abrasiveness has a purpose. It’s part of the design. It takes some time before this purpose starts to make sense. It requires patience on the viewer’s part. That patience pays off. At least it did for me.
The cinematography and the set design are stunning. It has some really memorable performances. Riz Ahmed is the standout. A friend of mine asked if Tom Cruise annoyed me in it, and I can honestly say he didn’t. He was actually pretty amazing. I think part of the reason, though, has to do with him being surrounded by so many annoying characters that he comes across as almost normal. Well played, sir.
Go see Digger. It has some important and uncomfortably timely things to say about society, media, art, history, the environment, and more. Sit through the credits and let your thoughts mull it all over. I think every message in this film, on the surface and beneath it, will only become more important and obvious in the coming years.
Love it or hate it, Digger is a work of art.
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