Diggers (2006)

For the last thirty years or so the summer time has been the months when the studios release their blockbuster flicks. With budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars these are the films that make or break the year for the studios. Still, many studios are out there with a commitment to the actual art of cinema. They strive for excellence instead of think what action figures and games can come out of the film. The independent film is something special and latest film from Magnolia Home Entertainment, ‘Diggers’, is a fine example of why. This film examines change both on the communal and individual level. Set in a small beach front town in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York, ‘Diggers’ shows people caught in the irresistible tide of modernization. There are no special effects here, no scenes that everyone will be talking about at the water cooler the next day. What it does have is honest emotions presented by a cast and crew with something that no CGI can create, talent. Like many Indy films this one is not without its flaws. I don’t see that as a setback, it is actually a plus for the film. It looks at life and that subject matter is far from perfect. You may not think that a little story about a fishing community would be worth watching but do yourself a favor; after the headache from the blasting audio in the blockbusters give a quite little film the chance it deserves.

The film opens in the year 1976. It was the bicentennial of our nation’s independence and almost everyone was waving flags and having parties. In one particular small town on the South Shore of Long Island many are not in the mood for the celebration that has gripped the country. For these people they work the same jobs as their fathers did and their fathers before them, they dig for clams. The focus of this story is on four friends; Hunt (Paul Rudd), Cons (Josh Hamilton), Jack (Ron Eldard) and Lozo (Ken Marino). They have been friends for their entire life working the shores to get the clams to market. Hunt is the ad hoc leader of the group. He is dissatisfied with the hand that life has dealt him, feeling trapped by circumstances. When Cons is not working at the usual job he is the local drug dealer and talkative pseudo-intellectual. Lozo is quick of temper and the father of five children with his wife Julie (Sarah Paulson). Jack is the self styled ladies man of the town. One day Hunt is late for work and more depressed than usual. His father (Beeson Carroll) had died alone of a heart attack on his boat. Hunt feels even more trapped than usual. What he really enjoys is his photography. He takes Polaroids of just about everything and would have left town a long time ago if not for the responsibility he feels towards his family. Now there is only his sister Gina (Maura Tierney), now divorced. As part of centering this film in the period she of course reads ‘The Hite Report’. Gina also has her afternoon delights with Jack.

Recently, the town has been undergoing a rather big change. The rich folk, mostly from New York, have ‘discovered’ the quant charm of the shore and have begun to invade the community. Even more of a threat to the old ways is the corporate take over of the best spots to clam. The once independent clammers have been pushed into becoming part of the larger companies in order to make ends meet. With Julie pregnant again Lozo is extremely tempted to join the corporation. While this is going on Hunt encounters a vacationing Manhattanite, Zoey (Lauren Ambrose). She connects with the artistic side of Hunt showing him a world he could never imagine in the claustrophobic confines of the town. Hunt was recently dumped by his girlfriend and with the added pressure of the dead of his father and the corporate take over is in a very vulnerable position. He doesn’t see that for Zoey this is just another fling. She just wants a dalliance with a working man, someone very different from the men she knows back in the big city.

I usually have a great deal of trepidation when I receive a film directed by someone whose previous experience was mostly with music videos. After all directing a four minute song is a lot different than being at the helm of a feature length film. This is the exception that proves the rule. Katherine Dieckmann did direct R.E.M. videos but she demonstrates a great deal of talent and potential here. In contrast to the fast paced, colorful style used in music videos this work has depth and emotional impact. Most of the audience will not be able to identify with the fishing village life style and mind set but that doesn’t matter. What Dieckmann has done here is connect on a visceral level with the viewer. We in the audience may not have the same sources of the pressures these characters face but we can understand how and why they react in the way they do. The thirty-somethings shown here could be in almost any time period. This is a character driven film that draws you in with the familiarity of the human elements on display. Ken Marino (Lozo) provides a script that captures the small town working man perfectly. The characters try to maintain the façade of living and working like their fathers and grandfathers did. They clam, the go to the bar and then fall back to their homes to start the same thing over the next day. But unlike their fathers the world is changing and that change is now on their doorsteps.

Like many Indy flicks this one depends on its cast and here that is a good thing. While most are best known for their television work they prove that a talented actor can take on any role successfully. Paul Rudd has been a staple on television for years. It is difficult to watch Comedy Central without him popping up somewhere. In his role as Hunt he shows that comedy comes from an actor who understands the human condition. Instead of making us laugh here he connects with the audience on a pure emotional level. He portrays Hunt as an everyman that is relatable to all. Maura Tierney may be best known for her years on E.R. but she is a talented actor who has been in many small, quality films like this. In this film she presents Gina as a woman pushed by circumstances. Divorced, in a small community with no real prospects of getting out she turns to Frank not so much for comfort but for some break in the monotony of her life. After six seasons on the quirky HBO hit, ‘Six Feet Under’, Lauren Ambrose has certainly grown as an actress. She was incredible in the Indy ‘Admissions’ and once again scores a direct hit with her role here.

Whenever I hear there is a new film coming out from Magnolia Home Entertainment knows that something interesting is in store. From comedy to serious documentaries they are devoted to bringing little gems to DVD. Unless you are fortunate enough to have an art house in your city they are a life line for the serious devotee of cinema. The technical specifications of this release are up to the standards set by the bigger studios. The widescreen video is exceptional. The color palette captures the bleak environment of the story. The Dolby 5.1 audio provides every detail of the rugged terrain. You can hear the ocean in the background, the air swirling around. Typical of a Magnolia release there are also extras. While many studios give you a plain vanilla release for a smaller, less commercial release, Magnolia provides a little more. There is a commentary track featuring Director Katherine Dieckmann and Writer/Actor, Ken Marino. Their insight in the production is informative as well as entertaining. There are also some deleted scenes with commentary to help explain the task of editing. This is a film that may not have been on your Radar but is worthy of a place in your collection.

Posted 05/10/07