“Stunning,” “Unpleasant” and “Bold”: Early Reviews of Tom Cruise’s New Film Divide Critics

Tom Cruise’s new film Digger has not yet been released nationwide, but it has already divided film critics. The satirical black comedy directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu has prompted sharply contrasting reactions: some journalists have called it “stunning” and “bold,” while others have described it as “unpleasant” and outright unsuccessful, according to Variety.

Most critics who have seen the film agree on only one thing: Digger turned out to be nothing like what they expected.

“This is Tom Cruise’s most dynamic and interesting role in many years,” said Matt Neglia, founder of Next Best Picture. In his view, the actor was given enough room for a larger-than-life performance, although the script did not allow him to explore the character deeply enough to give the role greater impact and nuance.

Variety awards-season expert Clayton Davis also praised Cruise and John Goodman, as well as the film’s visual elements. At the same time, the critic admitted that not all of the film’s components come together as a cohesive whole.

“I respect this bold move and what Alejandro González Iñárritu is trying to achieve. Tom Cruise and John Goodman are terrific, and the production design and cinematography are impressive. But ultimately, not all the pieces come together,” Davis wrote, adding that the film could have been even more absurd and satirical.

“The divisions over this film are going to be huge,” he concluded.

Some reviews were considerably harsher. Joey Magidson of Awards Radar called the film “a mess,” arguing that “not a whole lot works” and that he did not enjoy the experience. Critic Edward Douglas likewise admitted that he could not call Digger a good film, although he understood what Cruise and Iñárritu were trying to accomplish. According to Douglas, the audience reaction after the release could be extremely negative.

Journalist Mike Ryan summed up his reaction in a single word: “Unpleasant.”

However, Digger has also found some enthusiastic supporters. Jim Hemphill of IndieWire called it one of the most visually inventive, daring and unpredictable studio films he has ever seen, while describing Cruise’s performance as his best since Magnolia.

His colleague Anne Thompson called the movie “bold and gorgeous art-house filmmaking” that is unlikely to become an obvious mainstream hit but could attract particular attention from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — especially for its acting and technical achievements.

In Digger, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy tycoon who is forced to save the world after an accident on one of his oil platforms triggers an environmental catastrophe on a planetary scale.

For Cruise, the role is particularly notable because it marks his return to serious adult drama after years of playing action heroes. Over the past decade, his only film outside his usual action territory was the 2017 crime comedy American Made.

Even before the premiere, Cruise’s appearance in Digger attracted enormous attention. The actor underwent an elaborate makeup and prosthetics transformation. Initially, applying the makeup took around six hours, but Cruise was determined to reduce the process to just one hour.

According to Cruise, the team initially doubted that it was possible, but the actor insisted on training. Every element of the makeup process was carefully timed, and the entire procedure was rehearsed over and over again.

Digger will be released in theaters on October 1.