Netflix’s The Dig stars Carey Mulligan, which is a huge draw — but is this movie worth a watch in the end?
The Dig had me intrigued from the beginning because of Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes. They are both absolutely incredible at what they do, and I was looking forward to seeing them work together. So did they disappoint? No, not really. Carey is by far the standout for me in this movie, but Ralph does a good job as well.
This movie is not perfect by any means. There are a lot of flaws, but is it worth watching overall? It is hard to say because for me, this is very much a middle of the road film. The plot finds an archeological dig, while the world is on the bring of World War II.
What Works With The Dig
Like I said above, the acting is great. I found the plot interesting, especially as we near the second half of the film. There are moments of suspense where you might find yourself perked up and awaiting what happens next.
The take on the war time era is one of my favorite things about the movie – the fact that these people are still doing their job at a dig site, as the world is about to go into war. The story itself is interesting enough, although you may find yourself a bit slow to get into it.
What Doesn’t Work With The Dig
So where does The dig go wrong? Well the first half of the movie is a bit slow — although it does pick up, and it does get better. I found myself quite distracted to start but I did eventually get completely into the movie. There is only so much that a brilliant actor can do with a script and I think that is where it starts to go wrong. Too much dialogue can be a bad thing and that is where the first half of the film loses me.
The Dig is a bit too long. Another movie clocking in at around two hours when twenty to thirty minutes could have easily been cut out.
Overall Thoughts
So is The Dig worth a watch? If you were paying to go to a theater and see it, I would say no. However since the movie is coming to Netflix, I say give it a chance. Once you power through the first forty-five minutes or so, you are likely to enjoy it.
The Dig is a perfect cuddle up on the couch at home and zone out to get away from it all film. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. A middle of the road film that is worth watching for the acting performances and the final act.
About 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 it’s uncertain future.
The Dig comes to Netflix on January 29th.
