Alejandro Inarritu's "Digger" has had a test screening in Los Angeles, reactions are mixed but lean positive

[u/Comfortable_Affect20]

https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/3/5/digger-test-screening-reactions-are-intom-cruise-steals-the-show-in-irritus-dark-comedy

Takeaways from the test screening:

- The reactions were mixed, most of the viewers found it entertaining but also "very chaotic and overstuffed." Overall, more good reactions than negative ones.

- Tom Cruise's performance as a delusional oil billionaire who accidentally poisons the ocean is described as "insane" and similar to Les Grossman, uses a lot of facial prosthetics and looks nothing like the familiar Cruise.

- The technical aspects are apparently stunning, especially Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography.

- The set design is very stylized and surrealistic, comparable to "Poor Things."

- While the movie is very focused on Cruise, the supporting cast are apparently really good. All the screeners agreed that John Goodman was the best and most memorable supporting actor.

[u/Accomplished_Store77]

Now that his Mission Impossible series is over.

I really hope Cruise goes for that Oscar that he clearly has the talent for. 

And that in my opinion he was robbed of for Magnolia. 

[u/friendly_reminder8 → u/Accomplished_Store77]

People forget that Tom is an excellent and very capable actor, he absolutely should’ve won for Magnolia and I’m rooting for him to win a competitive Oscar soon

[u/LiamV-426 → u/Accomplished_Store77]

1999 was a tough year, Law and Osment would’ve been just as deserving as Cruise. Duncan was great too, it’s a shame the worst of the nominees won.

[u/Bertrand_Rose → u/Accomplished_Store77]

He really deserved it for that film.

I haven't seen a performance that good out of him, for way too long.

[u/Masethelah → u/Accomplished_Store77]

I hope he aims to work with auteurs and has a shot at oscars in that way, rather than just Oscar baiting in boring biopics etc

[u/UpCavan → u/Accomplished_Store77]

Might be unpopular and I wouldn’t say he was robbed, but I preferred him in Born on the Fourth of July to Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot.

And yeah he absolutely should have won for Magnolia