(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Won-hee = Top Hollywood star Tom Cruise's appearance in the movie 'Digger', which will be released on the 3rd, is unconventional.
Cruise, who plays the role of Rockwell, an 'old' oil tycoon who is both greedy and careless, appears as a pot-bellied, bald old man full of wrinkles. The muscular handsome man shown in the previous ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Top Gun’ series is nowhere to be found.
Due to Cruz's extraordinary transformation, foreign media outlets have already mentioned him as a candidate for the Best Actor Award at next year's Academy Awards (Oscar Awards).
“I make movies regardless of awards like the Oscars or what people think or say. Filmmaking itself is a privilege.”
Cruise, who has walked a path in his film career as an actor and producer starting with 'Endless Love' (1981), expressed his unwavering affection for movies, saying at a press conference held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel on the 1st, "It is an honor and privilege to be able to make movies of various genres for 46 years."
Cruz visited Korea ahead of the release of director Alejandro González Iñárritu's black comedy film 'Digger'. This is his first visit to Korea in over a year since his official visit to ‘Mission: Impossible: Final Reckoning’ in May of last year.
Cruz, who arrived early this morning, said, "I really wanted to come here," and added, "I always think Korea is beautiful every time I come."
Cruise's visit to Korea is his 13th visit, the most by a Hollywood actor. He frequently visits Korea whenever he presents works such as 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning' (2023) and 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022) and is considered a representative 'pro-Korean' actor. Fans also call him by the nickname ‘Uncle Tom’.
“It is an honor to visit Korea for the 13th time. I hope to visit Korea 30 more times,” Cruz said with a smile, adding, “I am curious how Korean audiences will view ‘Digger.’ I am happy to be able to share this film.”
'Digger' is a story that unfolds when oil tycoon Rockwell's drilling facility causes a global disaster.
Director Iñárritu won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for the film 'Birdman' (2015), and is the director of 'The Revenant: Return from the Dead' (2016), which won the Academy Award for Best Actor to actor Leonardo DiCaprio. ‘Digger’ is a project he has been preparing for 9 years.
Cruise received an offer to appear in 'Top Gun: Maverick' in 2019 while filming and participated in the film as a producer and actor. The character he plays, Rockwell, is a greedy tycoon who values money over human life and is an old man who only listens to what he wants to hear.
Cruz recalled, “I had never read a genre like ‘Digger’ before. The characters were something I had never heard or seen before,” and added, “The work that director Iñárritu put together was original.”
He said, “(The night I received the offer) I went to the director’s office and talked all night long. Dare I say it, it was on a completely different level in every way.”
In the film, small cracks in the glacier caused by drilling facilities are considered insignificant, but soon turn out to be a disaster. The U.S. president and cabinet members, including Rockwell, are trying to cover this up by constructing a different narrative.
The film reminds us of greedy people who prioritize their own interests, and also touches on various topics such as climate change and politicians who try to cover up the truth through claims that are far from objective facts. In this way, a satire reminiscent of the current situation is depicted in a humorous way. A new narrative format is also chosen to form a multi-layered texture of the film.
Cruz explained, "What caught my attention was human nature," and "I was not only happy to play an unconventional character, but I also wanted to look back on you and your life with the many stories behind it."
He emphasized, “It also expresses all of our responsibility (for the disaster),” and “This film provides a lens through which we can look at various topics from a multi-layered perspective.”
Cruz recalled that he did a lot of preparation to portray the character. He said, “I prepared for the character by sleeping on the trailer set. I wanted to make use of even my rest time.”
One of the scenes where Cruise's efforts shine is Rockwell's speech scene. Standing in front of people who are blaming him for responsibility for global disasters, Rockwell speaks with the truth that 'our daily lives enjoy the convenience of oil.'
The 10-minute long take (a technique of continuing filming without editing) relies on Cruise's overwhelming acting ability.
Cruz laughed, saying, "I finished the 10-minute long take in just 3 to 4 takes. I said I wanted to do more, but Director Iñárritu hugged me, saying it was enough. I was originally going to spend 4 days, but I finished it in one day."
Cruz also shouted the line "Bang Bang Bang" in front of reporters.
Cruise also emphasized that this work is the result of collaboration between other actors and staff. In particular, he compared director Iñárritu, who was with him, to Hollywood greats such as Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. Cruise worked with director Spielberg on 'War of the Worlds' (2005) and with director Kubrick on 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999).
Cruz praised Director Iñárritu, saying, “He is a director who naturally embodies the rhythm (of the film),” and “Director Iñárritu is a historical master and a tremendous artist.”
Coach Iñárritu, who was supposed to be with Cruz that day, was unable to visit Korea due to personal reasons.
Director Iñárritu said in a letter released through distributor Warner Bros. Korea the day before, "I have always been deeply moved by the amazing love, passion, and passionate support that Korean audiences give to movies and filmmakers," and added, "I express my sincere regrets about missing out on a precious opportunity to be with you."
He said, “I hope you can feel how much your passionate interest and love for ‘Digger’ means to all of us,” and “I sincerely thank you for the love, understanding, and support you always send.”
Cruise will meet domestic fans at a red carpet event on the 2nd.
