The Dig

The Dig is a quiet, thoroughly British movie. I mean, it IS about an archeological dig in the English countryside in 1939, but there's also a somber, prosaic style that is inarguably British about this movie. You know it when you see it. I have no complaints with the actors -- Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, and Lily James never sleep on the job. The camera captures the lush beauty of England's pastoral fields, making them a character unto themselves. The story, while simply, is remarkably interesting, given its simplicity. Only the love story -- a wholly fictional element to this based-on-a-true-story movie that the movie didn't need -- feels out of place, but it's delivered with such restraint and sad passion, it's hard not to be okay with it being in the movie anyway. I can't really point to anything wrong with the movie per se (historians won't like the deviations from reality, but that's how movies work). If there's anything keeping it from scoring higher, it's just that this isn't the kind of movie that strikes the chord for me in the way that gets more stars. It's simple, it's quiet, it's earnest, and I appreciate all that, but I don't love it. But I don't dislike it either. It's a nice way to spend about two hours. That's good enough for me, and I don't think movie is aiming for much more anyway.