This is no vanity project for Tom Cruise who lets himself go for this role, in more ways than one. Cruise as a crazy billionaire, and John Goodman as a wacky President, showcase multi-layered characterizations that are absolutely insane.
All of the performances with the complex production design make this film riveting, over-the-top, entertaining, disturbing and completely confounding. Iñárritu (Birdman, Revenant) blows your mind and keeps you guessing until the final scenes. What a cast. Riz Ahmed , Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons take very strange roles in this dark comedy.
Director Iñárritu wrote the script with Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Nicolás Giaconbone from a story by the director, Berman and Jez Butterworth. Maybe there were too many cooks in this disjointed brew. That said, by the final denouement we were pleasantly caught off guard.
This is one loud movie that starts a little slowly, but just as you think you might fall asleep, Cruise and Goodman go for it. Abrupt changes in the narrative deal with greed, power, politics, and environmental disaster. This intense yet comedic satire aims directly about where the world is headed. Riz Ahmed plays Ganesh, a scientist who is trying to warn Digger what’s going to happen to us all. He’s nervous but confident in his data and tries desperately to warn of coming Armageddon.
There are comparisons to Dr. Strangelove but this script veers more into theatrics with hysterics. As much as we enjoyed Cruise’s totally committed performance as the eccentric billionaire Digger, his attitudes are not as subtle and sophisticated as the legendary Peter Sellers, especially the way he is dedicated to keeping his grotesque, 30-year-old cat, Maggie from dying. Digger’s sister, Emma, keeps busy as CEO of her own environment company bnakrolled by her brother. Jesse Plemons has a small but very pivotal role. Wait for it. It’s another one of the director’s playful misdirections.
The storytelling keeps you on your toes, frequently using the 4th wall and other devices. Cruise’s rousing 10 minute monologue about our addiction to oil revs up the crowd of vociferous attendees in the huge packed assembly hall. They are about to tear him apart. In this wild scene, Cruise as Digger maniacally cruises around the hall showing an unexpected side of the actor’s talent that comes out of nowhere.
You’ll be startled by John Goodman’s new look, having lost 200 pounds! His gaunt appearance as The President fits this role to a T, and he, too, goes all-in, especially when Cruise and Goodman play well together in scenes. They’re a good match, both active and loud.
Iñárritu is so off-the-wall creative, utilizing extraordinary mixed media concepts in this intricately staged production that we don’t want to give away. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (3-time Oscar winner) is back with the director. He’s known for using steadicams or hand-held capturing long, continuous shots, and there are plenty here.
You may get frustrated with frantic misdirection, but Iñárritu presents a lot to look at and absorb. Digger presents issues ripe with relevant satire and a wild resolution to behold. In the end, Iñárritu and Cruise won us over. Yes, we dig Digger.
Warner Bros. 2 Hours 9 Minutes R
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