Digger // In cinemas from October 2 

“Tom Cruise is Digger” reads the poster. is also in prosthetics and acting as you’ve never seen him before. directs this meta-environmental satire, starring Cruise as an oil magnate that sets out to save the world after one of his drilling sites causes a natural disaster. That’s about as much as we can say on the plot, given the movie’s second act twist that frames the story in a whole new way. What we can say about the movie, however, is that it will be one of the most “love-it-or-hate-it” films of the year.

This review is in the former camp, as Cruise’s performance might be one of the most daring of his career. Loud, obnoxious, and paired with a wonderful co-star in , his performance leads a movie that takes a huge amount of risks. While many will be repelled by its confrontational style, those who like their cinema to come out of left field will be enraptured. After years of watching him cling to planes and defuse nuclear weapons, Cruise reminds you of his versatility, and how, when paired with the right filmmaker, he can make challenging cinema. Love it or hate it, you will be talking about it for a long time. 

9/10

Heart of the Beast // In cinemas now 

What’s more endearing than a movie with a faithful dog? One with a soulful alongside him. Heart of the Beast stars the Oscar winner as a Special Forces veteran who must survive alongside his combat dog Odin after their plane crashes in the wilderness. The film sees Pitt reunite with director , with the pair having last worked together on the war drama Fury. 

As you might expect, this is a tearjerker which celebrates the bond between a man and his best friend. Odin is utterly adorable, Pitt is as charismatic on screen as he has always been, and the trials they face are compelling enough to keep you invested for just over 100 minutes. It’s not the most complex or layered film in the world, containing none of the psychological or emotional exploration of similarly pitched films like The Revenant. However, if you want to see a likeable actor take on the elements besides a charming German Shepherd, this is the film for you. 

6/10

Avengers: Endgame – Encore // In cinemas now 

You might think it odd that we’re including a six-year-old film that is one of the most-watched of all time, but technically this Encore version of the Marvel finale is a new prospect for cinemagoers. The conclusion of the Infinity Saga, released in 2019, saw Steve Rogers (), Tony Stark (), and the rest of the remaining Avengers embark on a time-travelling mission to undo the carnage brought by Thanos (). 

It’s undoubtedly a landmark in blockbuster filmmaking, producing moments that have been replayed and quoted millions of times since. Personally speaking, I preferred overall as a movie, due to the stakes feeling higher alongside that devastating ending. Endgame has a slightly stodgy first act, and I never want to see “hipster Hulk” ever again, but there’s no denying the satisfaction those final battles bring. Encore comes with some extra scenes, as well as a new ending that ties into December’s . None of them are particularly worth the price of admission, essentially being a message to lapsed fans that this is all they need to watch to be caught up for the new movie. But if you can’t resist seeing Captain America say “assemble” on the big screen one more time, grab your souvenir popcorn bucket and enjoy yourself. 

8/10