SPOILER ALERT: This story contains major spoilers for “Digger,” in theaters now via Warner Bros.
Unfortunately, the film’s opening — an extended introduction to Cruise’s ambitious oilman Digger Rockwell — is so in-your-face that it sags under the weight. Cruise is in grotesque prosthetics, eager to show us as quickly as possible how uncouth Digger is: He eats from the same can of sardines as his beloved cat, his butt crack is seen in plain view of his maid, his comb-over wisps wildly.
The showcase scene is emphasized by the fact that everything is underwritten by Digger’s real-life nephew Kenny (Jesse Plemons), who bought the rights to “Fossil Fools” and used his vast wealth to fund the production. His motivations are many, as he implies that he’s doing it out of a mix of penance, flagellation and tribute to his family name. But ultimately he’s a benefactor of the arts. The themes make it impossible to ignore the real-life soap opera currently happening at “Digger” studio Warner Bros., where new owner David Ellison swears he bought the company for all the right reasons.
“Digger” ends on a somber note, with the audience methodically putting on gas masks and emptying the gorgeous theater, stepping into the dystopian world that remains after Digger’s environmental disaster. Flooded streets, discarded cars and military police are all around, until the camera tilts to the sky and the soundtrack becomes overwhelmed with the natural noises of wild animals. It’s a chilling wrap, as well as a dour end to what appears to be the last Warner Bros. film ever released.
