Tom Cruise stars in Iñárritu’s divisive new film Digger

The world premiere of ‘Digger’ in London has sparked intense debate among critics and audiences. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and produced by Warner Bros., the film is described as a ‘comedy of catastrophic proportions.’ It stars Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon whose business decisions trigger a global environmental disaster.

Cruise has undergone a significant physical transformation for the role, utilizing prosthetics to appear aged and uncharacteristic of his typical action hero persona. He noted that the process of applying makeup was initially six hours long but was eventually streamlined to under an hour through rigorous practice.

Critical reactions are highly polarized. Some reviewers have praised the film as a ‘visually inventive’ and ‘audaciously assured satirical farce,’ highlighting Cruise’s performance as a career highlight. Conversely, other critics have labeled the film ‘messy,’ ‘confusing,’ and ‘unpleasant to watch,’ suggesting the ambitious narrative fails to connect effectively.

The film features an ensemble cast including Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons. ‘Digger’ is scheduled for international release starting September 30, with North American theaters and IMAX opening on October 2.