From Vanity Fair · Hillary Busis · · 1m 10s
Tom Cruise’s Digger: A Haunted Comeback
Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, challenges his legacy as a once-mighty actor.
In brief
Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, challenges his legacy as a once-mighty actor. Tom Cruise’s film Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, portrays him as a flawed oilman with no remorse, but fails to deliver critical acclaim despite high expectations. Originally reported by Vanity Fair.
Tom Cruise’s Digger
Tom Cruise stars as a Southern-fried oilman with George W. Bush’s accent.
“Digger Rockwell, a Southern-fried oilman with George W. Bush’s accent”
Prosthetic Transformation
Cruise uses a prosthetic to play a man in his mid-60s.
“prosthetic he’s been given in order to more believably play a man in his mid-60s”
Director’s Vision
Alejandro González Iñárritu directs a screwball comedy.
“Iñárritu, the man who brought Michael Keaton’s career back from the dead in 2014”
Cruise’s Role
Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a greedy oilman with no remorse.
“the kind of person who could, and does, wreck the world with a flick of his finger”
Cast and Tone
John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, and Riz Ahmed star in a loud, abrasive comedy.
“a loud movie filled with loud performances”
Marketing Strategy
Warner Bros. launched a retrospective trailer for Cruise’s career.
“a thumping soundtrack accompanies scenes of Cruise in his most memorable films”
Critical Reception
Digger aims for depth but lacks critical acclaim.
“it aims for depth but can’t quite pierce the surface”
Cruise’s Legacy
Cruise has never won a competitive Oscar despite decades of work.
“the honorary statuette he received in 2025 just might not be enough for him”
Expectations
Digger faces high expectations to win critical acclaim.
“this is the movie that will finally win him the awards and critical adulation he so sorely needs”
Past Career
Cruise made films like Digger before his career shift.
“this period stopped around Rock of Ages”
What Happens Next
Digger fails to meet expectations, ending Tom Cruise’s comeback.
“even Tom Cruise can’t dig upward”
In short
Tom Cruise’s film Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, portrays him as a flawed oilman with no remorse, but fails to deliver critical acclaim despite high expectations.
