You have probably heard that "Digger" has been panned by many film critics and has nosedived at the box office. Many think it will lose more money than any other film in history. I am sure that the film makers never planned it that way. They probably thought that they had a big hit on their hands.
It was with that knowledge in mind that I went to see "Digger" anyway. Could it really be that bad? Surely, it had to have some merit. Thus I was at "The Showroom" for the 12.30 screening.
And I will say this about "Digger" - it held my attention throughout. I found it to be both odd and intriguing.
At first you think you are watching a regular film about a megalomaniacal oil tycoon whose activity in the Arctic Circle is leading to an imminent climate disaster while he strokes his anamatromic white cat. But as the film progresses you realise that that initial reality may be just an illusion. There's scenery, dressing rooms and an audience. You start to wonder what is real - if anything and you wonder if the film really is commenting on the climate crisis. Is Digger himself meant to be a mere caricature?
It was hard to make sense of it all but there were many powerful cinematic moments. Officially it is a "dark comedy" and there were certainly some chuckles along the way.
Perhaps "Digger" is - as some critics have said - "up itself" but I did not feel disappointed as I walked home in sharp October sunshine. It was not predictable. It had used a range of clever film techniques and it contained some very capable film actors - not just Tom Cruise.
If I lose interest in a film, my mind drifts away and I also look at my watch a few times with light borrowed from the silverscreen. That never happened with "Digger" so maybe it is not as awful as some are claiming. I was glad that I gave it a shot.
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