Alejandro Iñárritu's Digger, starring Tom Cruise, is a film that defies easy categorization. It's described as a condemnation of late-stage capitalism and a clever narrative trick, moving away from Cruise's typical action-heavy roles.
The film's structure hinges on three significant reveals that reshape the audience's understanding of its events. The first major twist arrives approximately 30 minutes into the movie, fundamentally altering the perception of reality within the film.
The First Twist: A Play Unveiled
Initially, Digger presents Tom Cruise as Rockwell Digger, an aging oil baron whose Greenland operation inadvertently causes a massive iceberg to drift towards Europe. This prompts a visit from the U.S. President and his cabinet, who convene at Digger's mansion to strategize. The scene takes a surreal turn when a tree outside the window appears to be grabbed by a giant hand. This reveal demonstrates that the preceding events were not real but part of a final rehearsal for an elaborate play. Cruise's character in the play is an actor named Curtis, portraying Digger Rockwell.
The narrative then intercuts between the play's rehearsal and Curtis's off-stage drama, including clashes with his director and a personal family crisis involving his daughter, who is traveling home and becomes unreachable due to a diverted flight. This secondary plotline, involving a hurricane and climate change concerns, is suggested to add thematic resonance but ultimately feels disconnected from the play's central narrative.
The initial reveal that the audience is watching a play, and that Cruise's performance is that of an actor, is noted as potentially undermining the film's impact. The swagger and intensity of Cruise's performance as Digger Rockwell are recontextualized when it's understood to be an act within the film's reality.
The Second Twist: A World of Reenactment
A more significant reveal occurs later in the film, which is credited with salvaging the movie's central gimmick. Throughout Digger, Curtis is hounded by Kenny (Jesse Plemons), who finances the play and runs an intelligence company. Kenny eventually reveals his true identity and role.
During a rehearsal of a scene depicting the President and Vice President on Air Force One to bomb a second iceberg, Curtis expresses frustration over historical inaccuracies. This leads to Kenny's pivotal monologue. He discloses that he is Kenny Rockwell, the nephew of the Digger portrayed in the play. The play itself, titled Fossil Fools, was originally a cult hit in London for its dark comedic take on a real-life apocalyptic event. Kenny explains he funded this elaborate production to give audiences a reason to laugh in a world he perceives as worse than the one depicted.
This second twist reorients the film entirely: the events are not just a satirical play but a reenactment of an actual apocalyptic event that has already occurred within the film's world. This revelation lends weight to Curtis's discomfort, as the play becomes a dark reflection of his reality. The film argues that this twist redeems the narrative by imbuing the story with genuine meaning beyond a mere clever plot device.
A Final Glimpse
Following Kenny's explanation, the play's final scene shows Digger Rockwell's exile to an oil rig as the world deteriorates. After his death, the theater audience erupts in applause. However, sirens blare, and the audience exits into a smog-filled, post-apocalyptic city, donning air-filter masks. A billboard outside the theater announces the 25th anniversary of Fossil Fools. The final imagery depicts a flooded, heavily guarded city under a grey sky, serving as a stark reminder of humanity's need for entertainment and laughter even in the face of societal collapse.
Despite the film's premise, Digger is explicitly stated not to be a musical. The article concludes by humorously noting the potential for a musical adaptation of the play within the film's universe.