Neil Young Says Digger Is “The Best Movie I Have Ever Seen”
Neil Young has called Tom Cruise’s film *Digger* “the best film I have ever seen”, praising it despite its poor reception from critics and at the box office. He said the film reflects today’s political and social climate and matters as an artwork that breaks from familiar commercial cinema.
In a nearly 300-word post on his personal website, Young described the film as more than a Tom Cruise vehicle, pointing to its artful expression and radical changes in style. He advised viewers not to rely on reviews, saying they failed to capture its effect and were mostly negative. *Digger* remains in cinemas; Young’s 50th album, *Second Song*, was released in September.
- Neil Young calls *Digger* the best film he has ever seen.
- He says it reflects today’s political and social world.
- The film remains in cinemas despite negative reviews.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Young’s praise can be understood as a personal artistic judgement: a film’s value may lie in its formal ambition and its response to the political and social moment, even if it is commercially unsuccessful or disliked by critics. Reviews cannot settle how a work affects every viewer, so audiences may reasonably decide for themselves whether its unconventional style succeeds.
The case against
Critical and audience reactions can offer useful evidence about whether a film’s artistic choices work for viewers beyond one prominent admirer. Calling it the best film one has ever seen may seem to overstate its achievement, particularly when its poor reception suggests that its ambitions have not persuaded many people; scepticism about the praise need not mean dismissing Young’s personal response.