Tom Cruise's latest film, Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, is a borderline disaster that may scupper any chances Cruise had of taking home an Oscar, according to our deputy TV editor Tom Percival.
Percival, who had eagerly anticipated the film after seeing its 'wonderfully weird' trailer, was left disappointed after watching it in London's West End. He described the film as 'a pretentious, pompous and smug jumble of half-baked ideas' that was neither entertaining nor funny.
A Slog of a Film
The film follows Digger Rockwell (Cruise), a wealthy cat-obsessed oil baron whose greed inadvertently causes the collapse of the Arctic ice shelf. As a colossal glacier approaches Europe, the terrified tycoon tries to fix his mistake before framing himself as the world's saviour. He also deals with scientist Ganesh (Riz Ahmed) and a US President (John Goodman) dying from 'cancer of the asshole'.
Percival noted an added metatextual element introducing ideas about legacy and the wealthy's control over their image and history. He called the experience 'a bit of a slog', comparing it to listening to a middle-aged man explain why Queen are the best band in the world.
Toothless Satire
The film's satire about trusting gazillionaires was described as 'toothless and on-the-nose', about as deep as 'a half-drunk cup of tea'. Percival also criticised the metatextual element for giving Iñárritu an 'out' for making bad art by design.
Despite the criticism, Percival praised Cruise's performance, noting his boundless energy and that he doesn't put his life at risk in this role. However, he felt the performance had 'the whiff of I desperately want an Oscar', which might get a nomination but could disqualify him with the Academy.
Verdict
Percival also enjoyed the 'arch and grotesque world' Iñárritu builds around the protagonist, though he found it all artifice and no substance. His final verdict: 'Nah, it is Dig-meh.'
Digger is released in UK cinemas on October 2.
