Clerkenwell Films
Magnolia Mae Films
Not part of a collection.
The Dig
Nothing stays lost forever.
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.
- Original title
- The Dig
- Language
- EN
- Country
- GB
- Budget
- $15,000,000
- Revenue
- —
Peter McGinn
Aug 5, 2021 · via TMDB
The Dig reminded me of another movie about archaeology and which was not only also based on a true story but also involved a woman’s contribution to that scientific field. That other movie was Ammonite, about a woman archaeologist in a time when women were more than rare in that field of endeavor. Unlike that character, however, Edith Pretty in The Dig does not do the work herself. Instead, her interest in archaeology and curiosity about the mounds on her property leads her to hire Basil Brown, a self-trained archaeologist, or “excavator,” as he refers to himself in the film. I enjoyed the movie despite —or perhaps even because of its relaxed pace and subdued action. If you are sleepy but decide to watch a movie instead, you may want to save this foils for a more alert viewing. As with most biopics and other films based on true events, changes have been made to spice up the telling. Apparently some of them occurred first in the novel it is based on. For example, because some sort of “bad guy” is required for most movies, the British Museum seems to be depicted in a slightly more adversarial role than what was the case. Also, because a romance didn’t occur between the main characters, a romance was invented between two of the supporting characters. And of course actress Carrie Mulligan was 20 years younger than Edith Pretty was at that time, but they do use makeup to age her somewhat. Changes like this are to be expected. The result is a movie that is both entertaining and, dare I say it, a little educational all at once.
Manuel São Bento
Jul 15, 2021 · via TMDB
Before watching this film, I had absolutely no idea who Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes), Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), or even Peggy Piggott (Lily James) were and what they did. As an engineer and a science enthusiast myself, I rarely struggle to find some sort of enjoyment in movies based on true stories about scientific discoveries, technological advancements, or impactful historical events. Therefore, despite a premise that doesn't immediately catch my attention, Simon Stone does a wonderful job in making this film quite interesting. Mike Eley's cinematography produces some of the most gorgeous shots of the year, transforming The Dig into a visually satisfying movie to look at. The main narrative focuses on the excavation itself and the findings of a shockingly old (Anglo-Saxon) ship, which turns out to be more captivating than I ever anticipated. However, the romantic subplot involving Peggy Piggott feels out-of-place and rather dull considering the objective of this film. It really hurts the overall pacing, dragging an otherwise well-balanced flick. Moira Buffini's already excellent screenplay is still elevated by the remarkable cast. Fiennes (Harry Potter) and Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) share a heartwarming chemistry that really suits their characters. Lily James (Rebecca) also demonstrates her impressive emotional range once again. Overall, I recommend it to any viewer who's interested in knowing more about the real-life story or who's simply a fan of this specific genre. Rating: B
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Carey Mulligan
Edith Pretty
Ralph Fiennes
Basil Brown
Lily James
Peggy Piggott
Johnny Flynn
Rory Lomax
Ben Chaplin
Stuart Piggott
Ken Stott
Charles Phillips
Archie Barnes
Robert Pretty
Monica Dolan
May Brown
Eamon Farren
John Brailsford
Paul Ready
James Reid Moir
Peter McDonald
Guy Maynard
Danny Webb
John Grateley
Robert Wilfort
Billy Lyons
James Dryden
George Spooner
Joe Hurst
John Jacobs
Christopher Godwin
Dr Parry
Ellie Piercy
Mrs Lyons
Bronwyn James
Ellen Mckenzie
Jonah Rzeskiewicz
London Man
Jack Bennett
Air Raid Warden
John Macmillan
Dr Rothman
Arsher Ali
William Grimes
Grant Crookes
Police Officer (uncredited)
Kemal Shah
Barfly
Rana Khadim Official
Pitti
Maria Djurkovic
Production Design
Mike Eley
"A" Camera Operator
Mike Eley
Director of Photography
Mel Page
Assistant Costume Designer
Laura Coates
Actor's Assistant
Steve Morphew
Stand In
Andy Bennett
Stunt Coordinator
Marc Cass
Stunt Coordinator
Matt Hermiston
Stunts
Simon Stone
Director
Jon Harris
Editor
Andrew Semans
Associate Producer
Lucy Bevan
Casting Director
Anne Sheehan
Executive Producer
Gabrielle Tana
Producer
Marcus Mumford
ADR Mixer
Atli Örvarsson
Conductor
Matthias Gohl
Music Producer
Stephen McLaughlin
Music Producer
Greta Salóme Stefànsdóttir
Musician
Matthias Gohl
Orchestrator
John Preston
Novel
Moira Buffini
Screenplay
The Tower of Lies
Sayonara, Girls.
The Godfather
The Green Mile
GoodFellas
City of God
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Apocalypse Now
Paths of Glory
Saving Private Ryan
Full Metal Jacket
The Wages of Fear
Casino
To Kill a Mockingbird
Les Jeunes Filles
Trainspotting
Braveheart
Blade Runner
Titanic
Downfall
A Beautiful Mind
Dances with Wolves
Stand by Me
Anatomy of a Murder
The Grapes of Wrath
Solaris
The Untouchables
Hotel Rwanda
The Bridges of Madison County
Manhattan
Inherit the Wind
The Hustler
Semantic Error: The Movie
Memoirs of a Geisha
Walk the Line
The Name of the Rose
East of Eden
Carol
Glory
Apollo 13
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Erin Brockovich
The Experiment
Enemy at the Gates
Boys Don't Cry
Black Hawk Down
Interview with the Vampire
Jackie Brown
The Terminal
Lord of War
Dirty Dancing
The Phantom of the Opera
Monster
The Hours
Dangerous Liaisons
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Shoot the Piano Player
Murder at the Gallop
Sideways
Murder Most Foul
Straw Dogs
Lolita
Lords of Dogtown
Les Damnés de la Commune
Gridiron Gang
Cool Runnings
The Tin Drum
Silent Barricade
White Trial
Heavenly Creatures
The Story of Adèle H.
Lefter: The Story of the Ordinarius
Payback
Nineteen Eighty-Four
My Brother Is an Only Child
Patriot Games
Bugatti: A Thirst for Speed
Hey, I'm Alive
To Die For
Flyboys
Cantinflas
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Cotton Club
Le Pion
Private Parts
The Beach
Infamous
Praise the Lord
Sommersby
Sleepless
Ring 0
World Trade Center
The Bastards' Fig Tree
Topaz
People in the Summer Night
Solaris
Fairyland
Tierra del fuego
Sliver
Most Beautiful Island
Valkoiset ruusut
Justice for Annie
The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan
Running on Empty
Murder in the Cassava Patch
La ragazza dei lillà
Sysmäläinen
Na brehu priezračnej rieky
Ulkar
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Six Triple Eight
Erin Brockovich
An Inspector Calls
Darkest Hour
Till
To Walk Invisible
FX's A Christmas Carol
Our Mother's House
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
This Happy Breed
Belfast
The Way Back
This Sporting Life
The Zone of Interest
Munich - The Edge of War
Hope and Glory
Denial
Peterloo
A United Kingdom
Eye of the Needle
The Gathering Storm
Agatha and the Truth of Murder
Journey's End
Six Minutes to Midnight
Origin
The Eternal Daughter
Queen of the Desert
The End We Start From
Jan 15, 2021
Jan 29, 2021
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