Our Coffee Ratings
Ellie’s Brew: Espresso 5/5
Digger’s originality, unexpected reveals, and subtle details stayed with me. From the performances to the cinematography and music, this is a movie I want people to give a chance.
Ray’s Brew: Dark Roast 4/5
Provocative and thought provoking, with extraordinary performances and spot on cinematography. The confusing opening gives way to a story that rewards paying attention. Highly recommended.
Below, we share our individual takes before getting into a clearly marked spoiler discussion.
Ellie’s Take
For the first five minutes, I wasn’t sure what I was watching. Going in without knowing the story made that uncertainty part of the experience. I was curious, pleasantly surprised, and waiting to see what would happen next.
Tom Cruise’s performance impressed me, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s direction gave me plenty to appreciate. The camera angles, colors, and music all contributed to an experience that felt unusual in a good way.
I also think this movie deserves a chance in the conversation about original storytelling. We often ask Hollywood for something new, but are we willing to meet an unfamiliar story with curiosity? Originality doesn’t automatically make a movie great, but Digger’s originality is part of what worked for me.
I understand why it won’t be for everyone. For me, its unexpected turns and attention to detail earned an Espresso.
Ray’s Take
I think we have to give this movie a chance. It’s provocative, and many of its subtle details give you something to think about beyond what you first see.
The beginning confused me, but once I understood what the movie was doing, the pieces started coming together. Tom Cruise and the cast did an extraordinary job drawing me into the story.
The cinematography stood out, and I enjoyed how the film kept throwing me off balance. Iñárritu asks you to pay attention and look beneath the surface, which is a big part of why I appreciated it.
I give Digger a lot of credit for what it attempts and how it unfolds. My rating is a Dark Roast, and I highly recommend giving it a chance.
Major spoilers ahead, including the film’s central reveal and ending.
Spoiler Discussion: Power, Performance, and Fossil Fools
Ellie’s Take
For me, realizing that we were watching a play about a disaster that happened years earlier made the opening click into place. The movie slowly reveals itself in a way I didn’t expect, and that discovery was part of what I loved.
Tom Cruise makes you believe in a character who is himself playing a character. That extra layer gave me a reason to reconsider what I had already watched.
And the name of the play, Fossil Fools was the cherry on top.
Who Really Holds the Power?
I read Digger, an oil tycoon who has exploited the planet’s resources, as part of a larger satire about people in power and how they abuse it.
Even with his wealth and influence, I saw him as another puppet of the government, positioned near the top of the chain. The president’s involvement adds to that question: who makes the decisions, who benefits, and who faces the consequences?
The disaster connected to drilling in Greenland gave me plenty to think about. To me, the film’s final reveal of the state of the world turns its satire into a warning about the future we could create through exploitation and inaction.
The Filmmaking Deserves Its Own Conversation
The camera angles, colors, and music were a huge part of my enjoyment. As the story unfolded, those choices helped make its strange world compelling. The score and cinematography? Chef’s kiss.
Ray’s Take
Digger is provocative, and some of its most impressive details are subtle. It asks you to think beyond what you see, which is something I appreciate about Iñárritu’s filmmaking.
The beginning confused me, but that feeling didn’t last. Once I understood the gist of the movie, the pieces started coming together. What initially threw me off became part of why I enjoyed it. I appreciated having to pay attention and reconsider my first impressions as the story unfolded.
Tom Cruise and the cast did an extraordinary job pulling me into what the film wanted me to see. Their performances helped make its unusual storytelling convincing, even while I was still figuring out where it was taking me.
The cinematography was spot on, too. For me, the way the movie looks supports the experience of being surprised and gradually finding your footing. It might be hard at first but it gets better in no time.
I give Digger more credit than I feel it’s getting. It offers plenty to think about, and I highly recommend giving it a chance. Another impressive film from Iñárritu, and a Dark Roast: 4/5 from me.
What’s Your Brew?
Ellie gives Digger an Espresso: 5/5. Ray gives it a Dark Roast: 4/5.
Did its unusual storytelling work for you? What coffee rating would you give it? Share your take in the comments.
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