Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu nearly titled Tom Cruise’s polarizing new satire Digger as “Blah, Blah, Blah,” a choice meant to underscore the film’s themes about language and perception. In an interview with IndieWire, Iñárritu explained the original title and praised Warner Bros. and Legendary for backing the risky project.
The original title’s meaning
“[Blah, Blah, Blah] was a reference to this incredible, terrible, terrifying weapon that we as humans have, which is the tongue,” Iñárritu said. “It can change your perception of the reality that your body is experiencing. It can make you believe in something that you don’t see.”
The current title references Digger Rockwell, Cruise’s oil baron character, but lacks the thematic punch Iñárritu had envisioned. “Digger” tells audiences little about the film‘s premise or tone, though the director ultimately settled on it.
The film’s premise and cast
Digger is a dark comedy centered on Rockwell, who unleashes an apocalyptic disaster after his oil drilling operations trigger a massive Greenland ice sheet to head toward Northern Europe. The film follows Rockwell as he teams with scientists and government officials to prevent catastrophe—or, in his case, to avoid accountability.
Cruise, in his first major departure from action roles since 2017’s American Made, transforms himself with prosthetics and delivers blustering monologues designed to bulldoze his way through every scene. The Polygon review notes that he appears nearly unrecognizable, channeling both the grotesque energy of Les Grossman from Tropic Thunder and the manic desperation of The Simpsons’ Rich Texan character.
The critical divide and studio support
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Digger earned a 52 percent score across early reviews, with a 44 on Metacritic. Critics have called it both “insufferable” and “brilliant,” “baffling” and “masterpiece,” reflecting the film’s deeply divided reception.
Despite the mixed reception, Iñárritu praised the studios for the gamble. “In the world of fear we are living in, everybody wants certainty,” he said. “This film is not any of that.
For it to be made and to nail the tone was a big bet. But to their credit, Warner Bros. and Legendary were really bold. They never hesitated.
They believed in this film—the urgency, the absurdity, the humanity, the nowness that it has.”
The film carries an estimated budget of $125 million, making the studios’ faith in Iñárritu’s vision even more significant.
What’s next
Digger opens in theaters Friday, Oct. 2. Warner Bros. has already launched social media ads pushing back against critics, urging moviegoers to see the film and decide for themselves.
Reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, Polygon, IGN and Deadline contributed to this story.
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