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 It’s another loaded week at the movies including two hotly anticipated releases. Below is my take on this week’s new movies. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Digger (Theaters)
Starring: Tom Cruise, John Goodman, and Riz Ahmed
Synopsis: There have been plenty of films where the performance of the star overshadowed the film itself. That almost seems to be the plan with Digger, which built all of its first marketing campaigns around star Cruise, and his history on the silver screen. And it turns out that is for good reason. The film comes from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who has delivered some challenging and unique films in the past. This film fits that mold well and may well be the starring vehicle needed to propel its star into the Oscar conversation. The film defies description in some ways. It focuses on Digger Rockwell (Cruise), an oil tycoon whose empire is built on mining in the far reaches of the globe. But that work isn’t without its challenges to both himself and the planet. And when one of those challenges reaches its breaking point, it sets off a chain reaction. Unable to control it with his team, Digger is forced to inform the President (Goodman). That leaves a select group of politicians and oligarchs to decide the fate of the world. Can they come up with a plan in time? There are some twists here, which won’t be a surprise to those who’ve seen Iñárritu’s films in the past. This is no exception. What you think you’re watching at the outset morphs into something else. There is a story built on a story that layers into something even more unique by the end. All of it is in service of some big ideas and big performances that are likely to stick with audiences. The film is an impressive accomplishment. The visuals and the layered narratives, the sprawling cast, and the vision to put it all together. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen recently, and it certainly makes an impression. The most impressive part is inarguably Cruise and his work as Digger. It’s an impressive and layered performance that dominates the screen. You can’t take your eyes off him and this larger-than-life figure he’s helped create. I just wish it was all in service of a project I liked better. I appreciate that Iñárritu likes to take big swings. Sometimes those swings hit. Sometimes, like with The Revenant, I appreciate the craft and effort, but I don’t connect with the final result. That’s the case with Digger. The story is a big swing. It’s a choice and it relies on buying into some twists. I couldn’t get there. I liked the way it was approached, the craft, and Cruise. But I ultimately couldn’t connect with the narrative or figure out what exactly the film is trying to say. That leaves Digger as a film that will likely polarize audiences. It could also polarize award voting bodies. It’s hard to deny the work by Cruise and the craft that’s gone into the film. But if you don’t buy into the narrative, it can’t soar to the appropriate heights.
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

The Last First: Winter K2 (Apple TV)
Synopsis: Throughout history, men and women have been inspired to push the limits. It’s been the limits of technology. The limits of creativity. And, at times, the limits of their own bodies. All of it is in pursuit of being the first to achieve something that had previously seemed impossible. K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. Getting to its summit takes a great feat of physical strength, endurance, and planning. And that’s during the best of times. But what about trying it when conditions aren’t at their peak? That’s the case in the new documentary The Last First: Winter K2. As the name suggests, the documentary captures the efforts of brave climbers in expeditions to try and summit the mountain during winter. It’s regarded as the last uncrossed barrier when it comes to K2, and it was a challenge that tested and enticed those who tried. This documentary captures the people who took on that challenge, and what resulted. As you might imagine, it’s not a smooth experience. We’re introduced to a group of climbers, including Nirmal Purja, John Snorri Sigurjónsson, and Muhammad Ali Sadpara who sought to defy the odds and make history. The film captures those efforts, as narrated in part by the friends and family who spent time concerned and cheering them on. It’s a harrowing look at a harrowing journey, and one that asks some hard questions about pushing the limits and seeking glory. The film is directed by Amir Bar-Lev, who has helmed some difficult documentaries before like Happy Valley, about the Penn State scandal, and The Pat Tillman Story. This, similarly, is about a great feat of sports and endurance, but a story of what can go wrong. It made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January before being acquired by Apple TV. Now, the documentary gets a streaming release on Friday. It runs about 98 minutes and is a combination of footage from the efforts and new interviews recalling the events, which took place in 2021. It’s part of the historical record how things turned out, but this film does a nice job of bringing the story and the expedition to life. I like the way it captures the beauty K2 and the harrowing conditions. I also enjoyed the way it tried to capture the heart and spirit of the climbers, which makes what ultimately happens hit even harder. It’s well worth seeking out to learn more about this story and about the cost of the pursuit of glory. The film does a nice job, too, of looking at the way Social Media and a climate of competition continues to push people to go higher and further, often past their reasonable limits. It offers plenty of food-for-thought about our society and what we’re pushing people to do in the name of creating a brand.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Verity (Theaters)
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett
Synopsis: Colleen Hoover has taken off both as an author and as an author adapted to the big screen. Already three of her books have been made into movies. A fourth, Verity, hit the big screen on Friday. But it’s not exactly like her other stories. There are big stars—including Johnson, Hathaway, and Hartnett—and a romance element. But this is a darker tale, adapted to the screen by Nick Antosca. The film centers on a famous author (Hathaway), noted for her villainous characters. She’s in an accident that leaves her unable to write, so another young writer, Lowen (Johnson), is tapped to finish. She stays with the woman’s family and husband (Hartnett) to learn all she can. But it soon becomes clear there is more to the story, and more to her condition, than first appeared. Then things really get crazy. The film is directed by Michael Showalter, who has a varied career. He’s done comedies and more serious fare, and this certainly falls into the latter category. There are some solid performances and some wild moments. Fans of the book will likely be pleased while non-readers might just be a little confused. It mostly works for what it is, but probably won’t rank as your greatest date night film.
Rating: Rated R for sexual content, some nudity, language, violence and bloody images.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five