{"id":902029,"date":"2026-09-23T03:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T03:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/902029\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T03:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T03:06:16","slug":"digger-first-reactions-tom-cruise-baffles-in-divisive-comedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/902029\/","title":{"rendered":"Digger First Reactions: Tom Cruise Baffles in Divisive Comedy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tTom Cruise<\/a>\u2018s star vehicle \u201cDigger<\/a>\u201d has finally been unveiled to members of the film press, who have been left divided by the satirical black comedy. The latest directorial effort from \u201cBirdman\u201d and \u201cThe Revenant\u201d Oscar winner Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu is being called everything from \u201cbaffling\u201d to \u201cunpleasant\u201d to \u201cfascinating stuff.\u201d Most film journalists seem to agree on one thing: \u201cDigger\u201d is like nothing you\u2019re expecting.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis is Tom Cruise\u2019s most dynamic and interesting role in years,\u201d writes Next Best Picture founder Matt Neglia. \u201cIt provides him plenty of space to preach to the back row but not enough to dig deeper and deliver a performance that could\u2019ve had far more power and nuance had Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu\u2019s ambitious narrative not been so imbalanced in favor of its zany but empty theatrics.\u201d

Variety\u2019s awards pundit Clayton Davis adds: \u201cI respect the swing and what Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu is going for. Tom Cruise and John Goodman are delivering stellar work, and the production design and cinematography are impressive. In the end, not all the dots connect, and I wish the film leaned harder into the absurdity and satire it kept reaching for. Shocker! The divide on this one is going to be wide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAwards Radar\u2019s Joey Magidson called the movie a \u201cmess,\u201d claiming that \u201cnot a whole lot works here\u201d and \u201cthis wasn\u2019t enjoyable,\u201d while critic Edward Douglas added: \u201cI cannot say that \u2018Digger\u2019 is very good, although I could tell what I\u00f1arritu and Cruise were going for\u2026 I expect a HORRENDOUS CinemaScore.\u201d A similar opinion was shared by journalist Mike Ryan, who called the movie \u201cunpleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIndieWire\u2019s Jim Hemphill was more positive, writing the movie \u201cnot only showcases Tom Cruise\u2019s best performance since \u2018Magnolia,\u2019 it\u2019s one of the most visually inventive, conceptually audacious, and unpredictable studio movies ever made. Takes so many bold aesthetic swings it makes \u2018Bardo\u2019 look like an episode of \u2018The Golden Girls.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnne Thompson of IndieWire was also high on the movie, calling it \u201ca brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences but will play best for the Academy, especially crafts and actors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cDigger\u201d stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a wealthy tycoon who must save the world when one of his oil rigs malfunctions and causes an environmental catastrophe across the planet. The film\u2019s supporting cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra H\u00fcller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.<\/p>\n

\n\tFor Cruise, \u201cDigger\u201d notably marks his return to adult-oriented drama after more than a decade playing action movie heroes. In the last 10 years, Cruise\u2019s only non-action movie is the 2017 crime comedy \u201cAmerican Made.\u201d One would have to go back 20 years to add more non-action movies to Cruise\u2019s roster, such as the musical \u201cRock of Ages,\u201d the political drama \u201cLions for Lambs,\u201d the comedy \u201cTropic Thunder\u201d and the historical thriller \u201cValkyrie.\u201d Cruise\u2019s return to more dramatic fare has raised the eyebrows of Oscar pundits since \u201cDigger\u201d was announced a few years ago, but the wildly divisive reactions to \u201cDigger\u201d may upend his expected awards campaign.<\/p>\n

\n\tPrior to the film\u2019s release, much of the buzz surrounding \u201cDigger\u201d has related to Cruise\u2019s wild transformation into the title role. The actor appears under heavy makeup and prosthetics that originally took<\/a> six hours to apply. Cruise worked with the movie\u2019s makeup department to get the transformation time down to an hour. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI had a guy there with a stopwatch and I\u2019m like, \u2018OK, you see that time, six hours? By the time we\u2019re done, we\u2019re going to get it under an hour,\u2019\u201d Cruise said on the \u201cNew Heights\u201d podcast. \u201cThey were like, \u2018No, I\u2019m not doing that, it will never happen.\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018OK, first of all, if you say no, you can\u2019t do it, you will never get there. So can we agree that we\u2019ll maybe make it a little less?\u2019 So with each piece that was going on, it was timed and then we\u2019d drill and practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cDigger\u201d opens in theaters Oct. 1 from Warner Bros. Check out first reactions in the posts below.<\/p>\n

DIGGER is a very mixed bag. You\u2019ll get what it\u2019s saying, and the concept is interesting, but it doesn\u2019t trust the audience enough not to hold its hand. Riz Ahmed is great. The Cruise performance is solid. Hard to do satire when the absurdity is so prominent in reality. pic.twitter.com\/SzhcTaztWB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kristen Lopez (@kristenklopez) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A.G. I\u00f1\u00e1rritu’s Digger is a brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences but will play best for the Academy, especially crafts and actors. But critics will divide on Cruise. The tour-de-force amphitheater scene might put him across. Riz Ahmed is fab.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGGER: Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu continues to take big swings and make bold choices as a writer and filmmaker. While this film certainly won\u2019t work for everyone, I found the pairing of I\u00f1\u00e1rritu and Tom Cruise to be an engaging and one of a kind experience. Cruise really does\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/1oOxHBGAJh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Very mixed on DIGGER which had things I liked (Cruise\u2019s performance included) and things I found absolutely insufferable. I wasn\u2019t a devoted Inarritu hater before this but now I kind of get it! Riz Ahmed innocent<\/p>\n

\u2014 Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Digger is the biggest swing of Cruise’s career. It’s either going to blow your mind or you’ll have other thoughts when you learn what is really happenng in I\u00f1\u00e1rritu’s masterfully directed film. Avoid spoilers. Alan Ng and I have very different thoughts. @mypalal<\/a> #Digger<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Gore (@ThatChrisGore) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

I cannot say that Digger is very good, although I could tell what I\u00f1arritu and Cruise were going for. There is a major reveal (not a twist) towards the end that almost justifies the craziness\u2026 but it will be a tough movie to review, and I expect a HORRENDOUS CinemaScore.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Edward Douglas (@EDouglasWW) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cDigger\u201d not only showcases Tom Cruise\u2019s best performance since \u201cMagnolia,\u201d it\u2019s one of the most visually inventive, conceptually audacious, and unpredictable studio movies ever made. Takes so many bold aesthetic swings it makes \u201cBardo\u201d look like an episode of \u201cThe Golden Girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jim Hemphill (@JimmyHemphill) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGGER is my favorite film of \u201826 \u2014 I avoided spoilers, so the surprises had an incredible impact.<\/p>\n

A bit Kubrick, a bit BLACK MIRROR but also feels original \u2014 a surreal, weird, funny study on (human) nature and storytelling.@TomCruise<\/a>\u2019s performance ranks among his career best. pic.twitter.com\/bOm4wlNroa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGGER: Often unfunny and flat, and yet\u2026 Gonz\u00e1lez In\u00f1\u00e1rritu is uncommonly focused here, and for various reasons that must wait to be discussed this is pretty fascinating as an exploration of one\u2019s place in the face of the apocalypse; unsuccessful but surprisingly provocative.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Swen\/\u5b6b\u5929\u884c\/Sun Tien-hsing (@swen_ryan) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Digger is a mess. Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. I\u00f1\u00e1rritu are taking a massive swing here, but despite some great production design and a commitment to their big choices, not a whole lot works here. Cruise is good and Riz Ahmed is a highlight, but man this wasn\u2019t enjoyable.#Digger<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dCQEtDlSYG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

“Digger” is not what people are expecting \u2014 and how audiences react may be the ultimate test of Tom Cruise’s star power. I respect the swing and what Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu is going for. Tom Cruise and John Goodman are delivering stellar work (Sophie Wilde might be best in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/egbp5ExWVj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tom Cruise, as you probably expect, is *going for it* in DIGGER, which makes me want to like it. Though I find some plot choices baffling. There are very interesting moments in a meta, Cruise\u2019s career way, but MAVERICK did them better. (It\u2019s also kind of generally unpleasant.)<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGGER is not at all what it seems on the surface. What begins as an over-the-top comedy of gigantic satirical proportions suddenly turns into a meta, somber commentary on the bleak state of the world we\u2019re inevitably heading toward, our inability to stop it, and what we\u2019ll\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/AYTaRaGNYl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Neglia @NYFF (@NextBestPicture) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGGER is a timely examination of powerful, wealthy narcissists manipulating the public narrative for their gain. It is very goofy, though not particularly funny, while also dissecting itself being this way. A satire about the role of satire. Fascinating stuff, (1\/2)<\/p>\n

\u2014 The Oscar Expert (@expert_oscar_2) September 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n