Here is the trailer for Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger,” and our first look at Tom Cruise in the role. It’s predictably wild, even messy — this one could go either way.
This is the most un-Cruise-like role since he played studio boss Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder.” Here, he transforms, with the help old age makeup, into a Southern-talking, potbellied, washed-up oil baron who has set off a massive global ecological disaster.
His name is Digger Rockwell, and he’s the only man capable of fixing the crisis. Tasked by the sitting U.S. president—played by John Goodman—he’s recruited to save a Commander in Chief who dozes off at the most inopportune moments. This is Digger’s time to shine.
Alongside the trailer, Tom Cruise tells press, “It took me 40 years to become this character.” Cue the Oscar campaign.
The trailer’s tone hints at political satire, and “Dr. Strangelove” will inevitably be cited as an influence, with its absurdist humor, apocalyptic stakes, and bumbling president. The symmetrical, striking visuals and quirky aesthetic also evoke the films of Roy Andersson. Whether Cruise’s prosthetics prove distracting remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Iñárritu and Cruise are taking a big creative swing, and whether it becomes a masterpiece or a misfire, it will be one of the most talked-about films of the fall.
“Digger” was shot in VistaVision by three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The rest of the ensemble includes Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sandra Hüller, Sophie Wilde, and Emma D’Arcy. No film festivals for this one — taking the same route as “One Battle After Another.”
Iñárritu’s previous film, the Netflix-produced “Bardo,” struggled with critics and earned just one Oscar nomination for cinematography. Before that, however, he directed “The Revenant,” which won Oscars for both directing and acting (Leonardo DiCaprio) and grossed $532M worldwide. The rest of his filmography includes “Amores Perros,” “Babel,” “21 Grams,” “Birdman,” and “Biutiful.”
“Digger” hits theaters on Oct. 2. Watch the trailer below.
