[TF Cine Review] 'The Mummy', Tom Cruise Like You've Never Seen Before

A grand satire that subtly blurs the lines between reality and fiction, aimed at the entire world."The Digger," opening on the 3rd, tells the story of a small crack that occurs at the Greenland ice drilling facility of Digger Rockwell, a quirky and arrogant billionaire, which escalates into a catastrophic disaster that shakes the entire world. /Warner Bros. Korea Inc.[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] "The Digger" is certainly a film that will divide audiences. If the tone resonates with your taste, you'll find yourself laughing non-stop, but if not, you might leave feeling a sense of fatigue and discomfort. Nevertheless, the fact that you can witness a new side of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, whom we only thought was good at action, is definitely appealing.The movie "The Digger" (directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu), which was released on the 3rd, depicts the story of Digger Rockwell (played by Tom Cruise), a quirky and arrogant billionaire, as a small crack at his Greenland ice drilling facility escalates into a catastrophic disaster that shakes the entire world.The film begins with Digger Rockwell, who has lived as a third-generation oil tycoon, starting his day. He dotes on his pet cat, Maggie, but lives comfortably in a luxurious home adorned with taxidermied wild animals, all while carelessly destroying nature in pursuit of immediate, immense profits.One day, Digger Rockwell dismisses a small crack discovered at his Greenland ice drilling facility as insignificant, only to find himself facing a situation where this minor issue has ballooned into a global catastrophe that could obliterate the world. Observations indicate that an ice sheet five times the size of Washington D.C. is on a collision course with the European continent.Tom Cruise, who had previously left a strong impression solely as an action actor through films like the "Mission: Impossible" series and "Top Gun: Maverick," takes on the role of Digger Rockwell, revealing a completely new facet of his acting. /Warner Bros. Korea Inc.Digger Rockwell, the instigator of this crisis, summons various powerful figures, including U.S. President Compson (played by John Goodman), to his home. Despite the situation stemming from his own ignorance and complacency, he ironically steps forward to save humanity, portraying himself as a hero.And then, "The Digger" opens a door to a twist. It turns out that this was all a play, and they were actors in rehearsal. The film then employs a framed narrative structure, constantly intercutting between Digger Rockwell, the character on stage trying to manage the escalating disaster, and the actor portraying him, allowing the audience to enjoy two intertwined stories.In essence, "The Digger" is a black comedy that consistently skewers the crisis brought about by human greed – the relentless destruction of future environments for immediate gain, driven by materialism and American exceptionalism, with a blatant disregard for the uncomfortable consequences.Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu masterfully navigates between reality and fiction, placing the audience in an ambiguous position and posing timeless questions about human nature. However, the overwhelming dialogue, delivered at a breakneck pace, leaves little room for the audience to truly contemplate the film's message, which is a regrettable missed opportunity. /Warner Bros. Korea Inc.Tom Cruise, leading the charge, delivers an overwhelming performance at every moment, showcasing a new side of himself that has never been seen before. Having been recognized globally as an action star through the "Mission: Impossible" series, his complete subversion of his existing image is truly astonishing.With a protruding belly and white hair, he completes a radical physical transformation, embodying the greedy oil tycoon within the film. His dynamic performance, particularly in a large-scale scene with 300 extras, considering the camera's movement, leaves a lasting impression.Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu blurs the lines between reality and fiction, placing the audience in an ambiguous position and posing timeless questions about human nature.However, the actors conveying these intentions constantly deliver their lines with excessively contorted expressions and shouts, leading to increasing fatigue over time. While the reveal of the framed narrative structure as a twist offers some justification for this directorial choice, it doesn't make it compelling thereafter. The relentless barrage of dialogue leaves no room for the audience to truly absorb the film's message, which is a regrettable missed opportunity. The film is rated 15+ and has a running time of 128 minutes.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]