Digger

Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) is an oil tycoon whose reckless drilling on Greenland’s arctic shelf has released a gigantic iceberg that now threatens to kill millions. Ganesh (Riz Ahmed) is the former environmental watchdog, now on Digger’s payroll who has been warning for years that this could happen. Meanwhile, President Compson (John Goodman), is only concerned about how to shift the blame away from the United States.

Half an hour into the movie, it is revealed that the entire cast is in fact rehearsing a play on the eve of the play’s premier. There is a minor sub-plot involving the actor’s missing daughter, but the majority of the narrative takes place on stage as the actors shuffle between sets as they perform the play’s various scenes.

Similar to Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” (2023), the film is framed as a pseudo-documentary chronicling the making of a live performance. The main style difference being that “Digger” is a not nearly as layered nor nuanced. The central message—that of elitist corporate greed and political self-interest in the face of a looming global disaster—is what director Alejandro González Iñárritu wants audiences to take away as they leave the theater. Does it succeed is another matter.

Objectionable Content

LANGUAGE: Extreme. The ‘F’ bomb drops 122x’s, not including two mob scenes in which a chorus of profanity makes it difficult to distinguish one curse from another. Other perverse or vulgar language includes sh** (20x), a** and variants (6x), dam* (10x), and a dozen euphemisms for male/female body parts, lewd acts and mechanical aids for same. There is talk of “burning the cat” and jokingly saying that “oil is what God gave us.” “God” is mentioned once in prayer, by a parody of a Christian pastor whom the President later admits is a clown. The Lord’s name is taken in vain at least 15 times.

VIOLENCE: Moderate. Wildlife is shown covered in oil, fissures erupt in fire, people are shown being swept away by floods, a man is swarmed by a mob with some blood on display. Many post-flood, now dead bodies are shown covered by white sheets including that of a child. A man vomits and another dead body is temporarily put in a food freezer for later disposal. There is a suicide. A dying cat is shown in progressively worse states of discomfort and decay, although on the positive side, it is clearly a puppet/robot.

SEX/NUDITY: Minor. Digger bends over in his boxer underwear revealing a ‘plumbers crack.’ Digger urinates, but away from the camera so nothing is shown only implied and heard. This was most likely included for laughs. Otherwise, there is no sex or nudity shown.

ALCOHOL is consumed by several characters in the film, with one drinking to excess.

WOKE messaging, within the context of this man-made disaster, is hammered in with phrases such as: “we dropped out of The Paris Accords”, warnings from “San Francisco climate scientists,” and “a Category 6 hurricane” which is beyond current measurement and does not really exist. Evolution is also thrown in when it is cited, “We were once monkeys.” A supposedly Christian pastor, who is at the President’s disposal gives an exaggerated prayer that devolves into him ‘speaking in tongues,’ but is clearly gibberish.

Incidentally, the Word of God strongly decries false, fake teachers of the law.

“They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” —Luke 20:47

Lessons

Although the film does not appear to be made for entertainment but rather for activism, it still manages to highlight some universal themes worth exploring, such as greed, pride, and ultimate accountability.

GREED. The disaster in “Digger” occurs because Digger’s oil leases are set to expire, threatening his exorbitant profits. Likewise, the President allowed the disaster to happen because of “back-room” deals that enrich those involved, regardless of the cost.

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils…” —1 Timothy 6:9-10 excerpt

Instead of devoting yourself to the pursuit of excess wealth, the Word of God has a better plan.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19-21

PRIDE. In a cast comprised mostly of deplorable characters, Digger stands above them all when it comes not only to his level of arrogance and pride but also his vulgar speech. Interesting how the two often go together.

“Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” —Proverbs 8:13 excerpt

Digger’s concerns are solely for himself. Even the support he gives his sister, Emma (Sandra Hüller), is self-serving; when he needs funds, he puts her renewable energy company up for sale.

Our God desires us to be selfless and to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

“In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” —Acts 20:35

ACCOUNTABILITY. The whole film is an example of Secular Humanism run amok and so it comes as no surprise that justice is eventually dispensed by the hands of ‘the mob.’ By the play’s end, we witness the downfall that awaits Digger and his accomplices. In my opinion, it is neither this world or man that we should truly be afraid of. Holy Scripture was always meant as a guide for us to live in peace, first with our Creator and then with our fellow man. The consequences are likewise mentioned throughout Scripture.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” —2 Corinthians 5:10

Closing Thoughts

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu bills this as a ‘dark comedy,’ and it lives up to the bleakness, but fails to deliver any comedy. Filmed documentary-style, it is gruelingly paced, and once the façade of portraying real-time events is lifted half an hour into the movie, the urgency of the crisis is completely lost. We are watching a play rehearsal, and nothing more. When the play is finally done and the screen audience is on their feet cheering one can’t help but wonder, what exactly are they applauding.

“Digger” is climate propaganda, and a boring one at that. Vulgar and tedious, there is very little to commend this film. Tom Cruise does his best in perhaps his worst project in decades. In conclusion, while I do not recommend this film to any audiences, I am not surprised films like this will continue to be promoted.

“But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,” —2 Timothy 3:1-2

• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Profane language: Heavy
• Wokeism: Moderately Heavy
• Violence: Moderate
• Drugs/Alcohol: Moderate
• Nudity: Minor
• Sex: None
• Occult: None

Be wise, every follower of Christ should avoid spiritual darkness and seek spiritual light

Learn about DISCERNMENT, wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

Every time you buy a movie ticket or buy or rent a video you are in effect casting a vote telling Hollywood, “I’ll pay for that. That’s what I want.” Read our article

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.