The Dig
As WWII looms, a wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain's past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.
- Released: 2021-01-14
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History
- Stars: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, Monica Dolan, Eamon Farren, Paul Ready, Peter McDonald, Stephen Worrall, Danny Webb, Robert Wilfort, James Dryden, Joe Hurst, Christopher Godwin, Ellie Piercy, Bronwyn James, Des Kaliszewski, Jonah Rzeskiewicz, Jack Bennett, John Macmillan, Arsher Ali, Amelia Stephenson
- Director: Simon Stone
Comments
- nickjohnson-24572 - 25 March 2024
Utter drivel
Lazy writing clearly aimed at middle aged women with nothing better to watch.
No context, no story, no character development. It could have been written by an AI bot. Every stereotype of England in the 1930s is used. Apprently actually writing a story is not necessary, the audience can fill in the details for themselves.
The only surprise is that half the cast isn't black.
I feel sorry for any descendants of the people portrayed in this film. They must feel betrayed by the almost cartoon like way in which their relatives have been shown.
However this most important problem is just how boring it is - but we mustn't mention that. - JurijFedorov - 22 October 2022
Romance melodrama, not about science or archeology
I kinda expected a dry movie about excavation. So a lot of technical details, a lot of nerds talking about science and history. Maybe a recreation of the ship burial to show us how the graves were created. It's obviously not the most exciting topic for a movie, but someone who likes history would like such a movie. Instead it's pretty much what you expect, a very lazy movie about melodrama and various love triangles.
Firstly, the ages of the characters are all wrong. The owner who was an old lady is here much younger than the digger. She's also for some reason seemingly in love with him. Why would a young blonde like an old married man? At any rate this is just silly romance melodrama for no reason. Clearly in real life she would want someone to look after her son not some weird researcher not interested in such matters. Then an archeologist married couple joins in. And in reality they were in their 20's.. Here the guy is much older and gay for some reason. And she's flirting with another guy at the dig even quite openly in front of her husband for some reason as she can't help it. Meanwhile her husband is hanging out with a man. Again, the real guy was not gay and they remaining married for a long time after this. She's also just hired for her low weight. In real life she was a hardcore academic and already a recognizable name in the right circles not some shy young chick.
It's a modern movie so they need some minorities, women, and gays at the dig. Which is maybe what ruined the story overall as there is way too much focus on the emotional life of the people there and pretty much all of it is invented for the movie. The movie could have been history focused only. Dry but with a point. Instead it just tries to be romantic melodrama and add on a lot of progressive ideas and points to something that should have been more mature. I think that's an issue too as the topic is for men while the movie is aimed at women. If the wrong viewers watch the movie you will have more dissatisfied viewers. Besides this it just plays up the melodrama a bit too much. Way too much romance, suffering, crying, whining, sulking. Again, it's about the emotional life of the people there. - Behnam-A - 11 April 2022
Smooth and lovely
This movie feels like those little animals that amaze you by accomplishing emotionally and intellectually significant tasks. You don't expect much but it gives you more than what you expect.
I have to admit that Edith Pretty is among the top 10 well developed and fascinating characters I have ever seen in my life, and believe me I have seen many movies in all genres. She is lovely, classy, kind, smart and dying. The movie makes you feel those characteristics the best way possible through both its great scenario and the great performance by Carey Mulligan. Mr. Brown is yet another lovely character there that amuse you. Again, both the introducing the character in the scenario and the actor's performance are brilliant. And guess what? This movie doesn't stop there in being great at character development, even the minor characters are extremely well written and well played.
The cinematography is also great. Green sceneries and farmlands and close ups from time to time makes the audience lives the story and feel it as real as it can be. The directing is decent as well. The movie is not too long, it successfully presents the story. There are a few scenes that could be ignored and there are some that needed more screen time though.
However, Despite the scenario being brilliant in introducing the characters, the story itself could be told in much better way. Not to say that it is bad, but it could be more interesting in storytelling. Maybe a warm narrator from time to time could have been a good choice for this movie. Also, there are some quick jumps in some scenes where one may feel a part of the story has been cut away.
So, all in all the movie is not the among the top excellent movies but is confidently among the decent and worthy ones. I believe it is among the top movies in character development though. - bruce2-1 - 2 February 2022
This is a film that makes me glad I am still alive
I can not praise this film enough! It is for this type of film, that I am still interested in seeing moves! And It certainly has NOTHING in common with all the clap-trap boring and insipid Cartoon Movies, everyone seems to always be talking about!
In fact, one of the main reasons for this film is to show a time between times... before the war started, but after everyone realized it was very soon coming to Britain!
This is a truly romantic film, but not in any typical hollywood fashion! It simply shows us what it means to be alive, in trying times.
I especially like the heartbreaking story of Peggy Piggot... What a wonderful job Lily James does, portraying such a wonderful and totally romantic character!
All in all, I just simply can not give this film enough praises! It is in every way just as perfect as any film can be!
