He is DIGGER

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Warner Bros. Pictures is a story about a scene that is carried by DIGGER.

Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) is a tycoon who is about to find out what a total disaster is, that is, when he’s not worried about Maggie the cat. The discovery that a rig on an Arctic ice shelf has pretty much shaken up the whole world, literally, is driven home by Ganesh (Riz Ahmed), a scientist who had been trying to warn him of the methane leaks. Now Digger has to tell U.S. President Compson (John Goodman) that things are about to get dicey with one of our country's allies.

Considering he is supposed to be close friends with all the major world players, Digger knows what the people need to hear, and he’s more than happy to give it to them. Even if it’s not exactly what one would expect! Letting Ganesh go first, he walks in full Texas gear and tells the ugly truths no one really wants to hear.

Cruise as Digger is a man on a mission. Walking around his wealthy life, pointing fingers at everyone else and finding most people not of any use to him, a disaster seems to bring out the best in him. That is, after he’s done panicking. Watching everyone else break out into a panic is what centers him, coming up with his own suggestions. I think Cruise could not help but have some fun portraying this role. It is so far out there that it’s impossible to mess it up. The deeper the trouble, the more outrageous Cruise takes his character. The character’s basic I-don’t-give-a-crap attitude just seems to heighten the craziness and feed into Digger’s need to call out the world as he sees it. It’s not a pretty world, but damn it, Digger is going to make his space in it golden.

Ahmed as Ganesh actually gave me quite a tickle a few times. Not only does he play a character that is unexpected, but he became an unexpected character for me to watch. I loved his performance in last year's film HAMLET, so in-depth and deeply serious, and in DIGGER, he flips the script, giving us the innocent face of a scientist who refuses to be corrupted by wealth and power. That belief, however, leaves him wide open to being a useful puppet with his naivete and wanting to trust that everyone around him will do the right thing.

Goodman as President Compson is dealing with cancer of the rear end and has moments where he spaces out, turning to his equally twisted staff to call out suggestions. Remind you of anyone? He is so focused on his rear end that he doesn't see what importance a block of ice has in the grand scheme of things.

Shout out to Jesse Plemons for being the character that is there, and not there, until he’s there again with something that needs to be said. You’ll know when you know.

Other cast include Robert J. Burke as Fitzgerald, Emma D’Arcy as Lina, Corey Johnson as Jacobs, Sophie Wilde as Hannah, Danny Kirrane as Sandy Clarkson, and Sandra Huller as Emma Rockwell. Mercedes Hernandez as Digger’s housekeeper, the only hysterically sane person in the whole film.

I get what Iñárritu was trying to do using comedy and satire in a hot pot, with a dash of Wes Anderson. That being said, I’m not sure what audience he is shooting for. Of course, the trailers hint at Les Grossman from the 2008 now-cult classic TROPIC THUNDER, so that could be a draw. That audience would definitely get hints of that character, which is oddly satisfying to watch. Other than that, I don’t really know where DIGGER fits. They’d also get hints of Cruise’s 1999 Frank T.J. Mackey in the film MAGNOLIA. Nothing wrong with recycling.

The questions that will hit immediately are ‘Is this supposed to be funny?’ stretching all the way to ‘I wish this were funny.” In between questions, Cruise’s character rampages on so fast, the questions almost get set aside without realizing it. The character of Digger reminds me of someone who lives on twenty-five cups of coffee a day and little else. Jumping from climate change to oil, to distractions (whether he is creating them or someone else), to Russia, to a twisted Nicholson’s 1992 A FEW GOOD MEN Col. Jessep rant of “You want me to drill, you need me to drill!”, it is exhausting. That brings us full circle back to: who is the target audience?

The saving grace is the last fifteen minutes of the film, but sitting through the first one hundred and thirteen minutes before that is the challenge, although the set designs are fantastic. But hey, if you are willing to take a wild ride and want to feel like you’re in the Twilight Zone for two hours, then DIGGER is just the film for you.

In the end – it is a comedy of catastrophic proportions!

The Ladies are Back in PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently in theatres, from director Susanne Bier and Warner Bros. Pictures, is the return of the Owen sisters in PRACTICAL MAGIC 2.

Still living in Massachusetts, the Owens women are still dealing with the curse of their ancestor, Maria Owens. Sally (Sandra Bullock) has been raising her two daughters, Antonia (Maisie Williams) and Kylie (Joey King). What they don’t know is that their mother hasn’t told them one single thing about the magic they have inside them. Swearing sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman) to secrecy, they have managed to live on without exposing the truth. But, like all truths, it will rise like bread dough breaking through to the surface.

Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) is the first to realize it when she discovers the Book of Raven that may hold more explanation that haunts the sisters' ability to love without deadly consequences. Unfortunately, Aunt Jet can only leave the book behind as her time has come, much to the dismay of sister Frances (Stockard Channing). After mourning, a test comes when Kylie’s love, Gideon (Xolo Mariduena), is struck down and falls into a coma. A promise broken between the two sisters, Kylie’s anger sets her on a path with the book meant for Frances and a calling to head to England.

Sally and Gillian are told by Francis to follow and find Ian Wright (Lee Pace), a historian of magic who can help not only find Kylie, but discover what the book means to them. Sister Antonia stays at the hospital with Gideon, with Aunt Frances at their side. Kylie is following visions that lead her to Tom Bailey (Solly McLeod) and Lockland Manor with its dark history and more stories of the witches the Owens are related to.

Sally and Gillian meet with Ian Wright, but Sally feels as if something is off, and not just her magic. Not trusting Ian, she has no choice but to follow where he leads to understand what has become of Kylie and who is responsible. What they find there forces the sisters to come together once again to use their powers to face the darkness.

Bullock as Sally has been raising her daughters along with her two aunts and sister. Living without the use of magic, she believes it will keep her daughters safe. When it doesn’t due to a broken promise, Sally has to come to terms with reigniting her long-lost magic to save an angry daughter. I love when Bullock plays such strong characters, and coming back to an original character means that much more to me. She is an overprotective mother, a strait-laced sister, a loving niece, and a stubborn woman to the maximum, and I’m here for it. Playing opposite her ‘sister’ in Kidman, it felt like their chemistry hadn’t changed a bit.

Kidman as Gillian reprises her role as the ditzy sister who has no intention of settling down to domestic life or setting her magic aside for anyone. Clearly loving her Aunts as well as her nieces, she shows up as big a life itself with her own brand of scattered thoughts and funny comments. Kidman made it appear like she had a very good time coming back to the witchiness, making it look comfortable. When it comes time, her character is strong and knows her family is everything.

Pace as Ian is a professor who studies magic, and he knows there is dark magic after him as well as the Owens. It is Frances who directs Sally and Gillian to him, explaining that he knows what they do not about the family and its past. Knowing that Sally doesn’t trust him, he tries his best to help, but his emotions are out there for all to see. McLeod as Tom shares with Kylie the deep story behind the Owens' history and wants to help Kylie finish opening the Book of Ravens for the rest of the answers. There is a connection, and he shares what he knows. Not a huge role but a powerful one nonetheless.

King as Kylie is the typical college student who thinks they know everything till they don’t, and when they don’t like what’s happening, they fly off the handle. Kylie is reckless, isn’t thinking, and, by the way, who leaves their boyfriend in a coma and asks their sister to watch over him? I just couldn’t get behind that. Also, you think because you just learned you are a witch that you can cast a spell? Man, I wasn’t buying that in the slightest and, honestly, it was irritating. Williams as Antonia is a doctor who at least thinks in reality first and foremost. Not understanding what her sister is up to, she goes along to get along. Her role isn’t a large one, but she reminds me of Bullock’s character from the 1998 film. Strong, wise, a bit funny, and quirky.

Wiest as Jet just made my heart practically burst. Sweet, loving, a bit out there. It is clear she loves her family enough to sacrifice everything for them. It is so good to see her on the screen returning as Jet. Channing also returns as Frances, loving sister to Jet. She supports the family when needed and does so with such grace and elegance. Both of these wonderful actresses deserve all the kudos I can possibly give them.

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 is based on the 2021 novel The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman, which is the sequel to the 1998 film PRACTICAL MAGIC.

I went in hoping that I wouldn’t be disappointed after all the time that has passed since the original film. It’s a hit-or-miss when enough time has passed to try and pick up the torch to see if it will work once again. Three generations of women in my family sat together, and no, we were not disappointed with the three generations of witches on the screen. We had such a fantastic time reacquainting ourselves with the Owen sisters, and investing in the new generation of sisters.

The story flowed so well between the generations when secrets are revealed, and bad intentions make Sally and Gillian suspicious of everyone- well, more Sally than anyone else. There is more of the history of the family that comes out as well, and I found it so interesting how it is woven into the story. There was absolutely nothing I didn’t enjoy. A nice bonus was Pace’s Ian being introduced as someone Sally fears losing after having lost so many.

There are so many surprises mixed in as well that the two-hour running time didn’t feel like it at all. Filling up all that time, I can honestly say there isn’t a need for a third installment of the story. I really enjoyed how it was wrapped up in a way that no fan of the original film should be unhappy. So gather up your own little coven and hit the theatres this weekend for a magical good time.

In the end – this is everything you witched for!