The Dig reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@thefinster]

Robert's speech to the stars was tremendously moving; lying on the remains of an eternal boat, in the fading embrace of his mother. Beautiful.

[@uggggggghhhhh]

Indeed, it was very beautiful and I cried like a baby

[@MarkFilipAnthony]

Reminds me of a famous scene from the play Peer Gynt

[@steveadams6595]

Terrific performances from Fiennes and Mulligan. A charming, beautifully shot movie.

[@chrisgregory7161]

I mostly agree with Kermode: Mulligan and Fiennes are superb and their relationship is the film's driving force, whereas the subplot does feel a little tacked on, although I liked James' performance within that. Beautifully shot and lovely score. It was wonderful to see my home county represented so well: beautiful Suffolk scenery, and Fiennes' accent is very good, especially given us East Anglians are usually made to sound Cornish on film!

[@markcynic808]

@@WaddedBliss If only...

[@annepercival7814]

Agree about Fiennes accent...being from Suffolk originally myself

[@swamisalami3000]

Wasn’t excited to go watch but I had nothing better to do but damn it was a very beautiful movie. The acting was great. The way it was shot was gorgeous.

[@glenchapman3899]

One of the few films I ever seen were I found myself caring about EVERY character.

[@carlatate7678]

I thought the same--the Peggy subplot was an annoyance and I just wanted to learn more about the unearthing of the treasure, and Basil Brown.

[@MrChrisStarr]

The film is based on the historical novel, the relationship is in the novel so its in the film! It is not a dramatization of the actual dig! I am slightly annoyed that Mark Kermode didn't know this. Just to repeat film of the novel, film of the novel, film of the novel!!!!

[@maxinehayes7721]

@@MrChrisStarr Still felt unnecessary though…it didn't bring anything to the film.

[@SCharlesDennicon]

@@maxinehayes7721 The thing is, The Dig is not a film about archaeology, it may make us think it is at the beginning, but it's not.

[@sweetf2a]

I find it quite insulting to the real people’s memories to have their names used but to invent a relationship with someone that never happened. For me there was no need, it brought nothing to the story.

[@moonkeele]

As grandpa Simpson said 'The romantic subplot felt tacked on.'

[@noahman27]

I just finished watching the movie. It's a beautiful film. Beautifully filmed. Superbly directed and acted.

[@nimajnebkingofsausage4744]

Just watched it - brilliant. Really interesting to see Johnny Flynn in it, who did the theme tune for detectorists, which was filmed about 2 miles away from Sutton Hoo.

[@amelialikesfrogs5778]

I noticed that. I'm a big fan of detectorists and the very attractive johnny Flynn and his music. as I was watching the movie I kept hearing lance from detectorists saying " it's exactly what happened at Sutton Hoo, they abandoned it because of the war then they went back to finish it off." It's strange how there are multiple connections between things sometimes, the world's a small place i guess

[@gerardwallace9513]

"Ted, are you a fan of French cinema at all?" "I wouldn't know about that sir. There's a problem with the drainage in the lower field."

[@MaquiladoraIII]

"Don't ever walk these woods at night."

[@matthewmiller9575]

Those sketches were wonderfully played

[@gerardwallace9513]

@Arbane's Sword I wouldn't know about dat sir

[@marieadams3720]

@@MaquiladoraIII You heard what I said!

[@orgyhepburn2761]

Lol

[@HD-dz4uk]

Watched it yesterday and really enjoyed it, everyone played their parts really well. The camera showed Suffolk off beautifully.

[@trevordoolan5011]

I saw this film last Friday by accident ! I was just calling up to my parents, not planning on staying long at all. And my Mum had just put "The Dig" on. I thought [to myself] I'd just stick around for few minutes, and then head off again. But, I just found myself getting so immersed in the relationship between Basil and Edith. Fabulous acting. I also found the bazaar love triangle between Edith's Cousin and the newly married couple a distraction. Though I did also find the bond between Basil, Mrs. Brown and Edith's son endearing. It was an awful shame that Basil Brown wasn't given the recognition he deserved at the time, mainly because of snobbery and ignorance. But at least Basil Brown was eventually give that recognition he did deserve. 🇮🇪

[@cncshrops]

I'm going to disagree with Mark, and most commenters here, and say that the young loves were all of a piece with the themes of the film. If the film was about anything, it was about life, loving, connecting, and the transience of existence. Every single character has something to say about these ideas, including the silent, beacause dead, young pilot, the interned Anglo-Saxon, and Edith's late husband. I could expand, but you get the idea.

[@Wats06071]

I think the good doctor is being generous by saying it was a minor distraction. To me, it was a major one that totally ruined the pace. This film could have been great if it was shorter, and concentrated on the actual dig and told us more details about what they found instead of the empty ".....these people had culture, they were not savages". All that said..Ralph Fiennes is amazing!

[@welshskies]

We watched the premier on Netflix thanks to our membership of the NT (one of 300 tickets) and loved the film, all the performances were great but we felt that Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes stand out as being protagonists that engendered real affection. The camera work brought the landscape and atmosphere of East Anglia into our Welsh sitting room quite brilliantly.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

This review is spot on. Throw in some sexy romance for the younger viewers. In addition, I would add that they made Edith Pretty a lot younger than she was actually when the dig at Sutton Hoo was happening. She was near 54 or so at that time whereas Carey Mulligan looks to be in her 30's to early 40's. Perhaps it makes more sense since the child, Robert, was around 7 or so. That part is true but Mrs. Pretty was 47 when she gave birth to him. She married late in life. I did a brief bio video on Edith Pretty on my channel so I know a bit about her. I do videos on women in history as both a history buff, myself, and a researcher of sorts. Did a video on Mary Anning, a pioneering woman in the field of paleontology as well. Thanks for this review.

[@pattheplanter]

Carey Mulligan is 35. Edith Pretty was 57 in 1939. There are, for some reason, few leading actresses under the age of 70 who look like Edith Pretty did at 56 when her portrait was painted. Basil Brown was 51 in 1939 and not really a silver fox. Ralph Fiennes is (a well-kept) 58. I do wish we could tell the stories as they were, not a prettyfied, Hollywoodised distortion. Did they research Edith's life? www.eadt.co.uk/news/edith-pretty-paid-for-historic-suffolk-excavation-2595084

[@lauravander]

Thanks for this, very interesting. I’ve just watched the film, which I really enjoyed and now I’m off to check out your channel!

[@markcynic808]

She was 56. 57 the month after digging was halted.

[@Stuffthatsfunny1]

She was going to be played by nicole kidman but she had to drop out so Carey mulligan came in

[@MagiciansApprentice1]

performance counts - does she portray Mrs Pretty well ? Yes, then appearance is irrelevant

[@ghostdancing9988]

That was an epic cycle ride by the kid, Sutton Hoo to Rickinghall via Post Office at Diss, 30 miles give or take a yard or two.

[@squidge125]

Yep that was some serious poetic licence!

[@justgivemethetruth]

This was such an amazing movie ... it slowly draws you in and makes you care about what is a very interesting and slow story.

[@Pongant]

Loved the film, but the peggy stuff was really distracting. Fiennes' portrayal of Basil Brown was so brilliant. Just look at pictures from the original excavation.

[@trevorbarre5616]

Shame that Basil Brush wasn't given a bigger role.

[@lionheart2663]

Netflix amazes me sometimes ...for the first time it made me think. Great movie, great story, amazing performance by everyone especially Ralph Fiennes.

[@ahdvd]

Talking about roles that Ray Fiennes either loved playing or didn't, one of my favourite roles of his is Lenny Nero in Strange Days, which you never hear him speak about during any interviews, so I'm guessing he didn't like the role (or the fact the movie bombed at the box office in the 90's when it was released) but I wish there was footage or recording of him being interviewed about that movie as it's become such a cult classic, and one that many people forget was him because he disappeared into it so well.

[@stevenmarshall189]

It looks like a charming film, I will look forward to streaming this.

[@noracoolen2167]

I enjoyed this movie and the history that went with it

[@Leonards-leopard]

Really enjoyed this and totally agree about Monica Dolan, plus her accent was pretty much spot on.

[@adeeyp]

Really lovely film. Beautifully shot, and Ralph Feinnes Suffolkian accent is top notch!

[@NobblaSparrow]

Overall, I was disappointed. I very much enjoyed the beginning, if not the first hour. I’m an enormous fan of Time Team and The Detectorists, and so I was in my element here. Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes were superb and I really enjoyed the story of their friendship along with their shared passion for history and archaeology. The young boy was great as was Ken Scott with all the squabbling between the museums and archaeologists. The backdrop of the lead up to WW2 also added an interesting element. You already had the perfect recipe for an engaging film. But then half-way through it turned into something different and became akin to some tedious ITV Sunday afternoon romantic drama. The love interest really wasn’t necessary.

[@siddhantkumar9646]

Couldn't agree more. This movie had the potential to be in my all time favourites. The romantic subplot completely ruined it for me in that regard

[@michaelm5314]

Spot on review. Beautifully shot film!

[@chrispenn715]

I lived a few miles from Sutton Hoo for many years - the film captures some of the feeling of this part of Suffolk - the sea and the Bawdsey Ferry. Pity they couldn't use the real house at Sutton Hoo (although understandable). Fiennes accent is excellent - something that is hard to get right. Enjoyed it.

[@sarahmillard6401]

We watched it this weekend and loved it. The cinematography and the framing of the great Suffolk skies was excellent. For me, it was a film about life and death, and while I agree that the romantic subplot did seemed somewhat tacked on (in reality, Peggy was with her husband for 20 years), the sense of desperate doom overhanging the adulterous relationship due to the looming war more than made up for it - they were a couple grasping at life, however brief, in the midst of death. Superb performances from Mulligan and Fiennes, especially, and an interesting examination of attitudes to class. It showed that snobbery isn’t something confined to the upper and educated classes but by extension, can be inherent in the lower classes as well (the treatment of the intelligent, gentle Brown as nothing more than a servant by the butler being a case in point). Well worth watching.

[@Daisy-Jay]

Marvellous performances by all! interesting depiction of class, education, social status - still prevails today. Ralph was also born in Suffolk! I discovered they filmed most of it in leafy Surrey - Mrs Pretty’s home depicted in the film was surrounded by hills and trees, the Anglo Saxon mounds are actually in a flat, farming landscape which adds to the otherworldly, spiritual atmosphere.

[@markknowles1998]

We went there in 2019. Actually, no. The house and the site are atop a hill that looks down onto a river valley. The land at the top of the hill is flat, though.

[@WildwoodClaire1]

I agree concerning the subplot, it added nothing of value or interest and, in fact, was mostly an irritating distraction. It felt distinctly like padding.

[@jeffallen6306]

Great Film, I Was mesmerised by the dialect and pace of the language, the tongue of my father and his parents , and the wonderful photography , and as with the best British films , a subtle reminder of class.

[@danieljamesmead]

Did you watch University challenge last night

[@neilpidgeon8317]

Just finished watching, if you loved summerland this is another gentle little gem!

[@johnmatthews273]

Just watched it, thought it was great. I usually prefer movies with a bit more "oomph!" but it's just a lovely tale, well made with terrific acting from everyone👍

[@iamreg1965]

I watched this last night after having been looking forward to it for a few months now. I was not disappointed. Along with the Vindolanda Tablets and the Norse Chess Men, the Sutton Hoo find is, undoubtedly, Britains most precious historical artifact. But this film tells the flip side of the find itself, the people who enabled its discovery; Edith Pretty and Basil Brown. I don't know if the Dig got its theatrical release in time to be considered for this years Oscars but Ralph Fiennes has never been better in my opinion and Carey Mulligan was first class also. I was intrigued by the use of dialogue being spoken by the actors as they were moving forward silently with the narrative. A novel trick that perhaps was a tad overused but ultimately didn't spoil the film. Monica Dolan is fast becoming Britain's greatest actress and her subtle performance here is even more testiment to that. She was also wonderful in the recent small budget film Days of the Bagnold Summer. Highly recommended antidote to the CGI infested world of so-called popular cinema today.

[@jeffgallagher7687]

1- what were they doing with the voices dissociated from the lips moving? Happened several times. Haunting effect. If that was an accident some film maker should explore it in another movie. 2 - boy and mom in boat to stars was one of the most beautiful scenes I can recall.

[@mandead]

Saw it this afternoon and really enjoyed it. Lovely film with some really solid performances - my only complaint (however minor) is they didn't dig up or show the famous Sutton Hoo helmet!

[@mrjoe5292]

The helmet was not intact according to wikipedia, it was fragmented into hundreds of pieces. It wasn't until years later the jigsaw puzzle, so to speak, was finished. Its importance was known before that with the fragments having been reported on in newspapers, though not fully understood at the time of the excavation (though the fragment positions were noted). I guess sometimes it's not until something is reconstructed and understood a little more that its significance can be fully comprehended. I'm just about to watch the film, so I'll keep an eye out for any references to fragments. It's funny, it didn't click for me at first until I watched this review that it was about the Sutton Hoo excavation, and that I'd read about this excavation before. I remember thinking it was a sweet and interesting story so I'm glad they made a film about it.

[@nickalldread1689]

Had to check up the details on Sutton Hoo as a long time ago since I visited there at school. Didn't realise this ship wasn't the actual first proper dig. Implied that dug another mound before the main ship found, but a couple more found - but hey that wouldn't make as good a film. Might get people into looking into history more though

[@connor3158]

You can see the nose piece in one of the scenes where the artefacts are in the trays. Like another comment says below, nothing resembling an intact helmet was actually found and it took painstaking man hours over many years to finally reconstruct the helmet. So it wouldn't have been this big moment at the time.

[@markcynic808]

@@connor3158 The helmet was disassembled and reassembled in 1971 after a new dig undertaken in the mid to late 60s at Sutton Hoo found more pieces. The Royal Armoury made their own replica in 1973 of how the helmet would have looked new and further corrected misaligned and missing details on the helmet. This is possibly the most accurate model.

[@flewintopylon]

I think they should have depicted the helmet being dug up intact, even though it wasn't really found that way. This was the only dramatic license they should have taken. There was never really a jawdropping moment. It would have emphasized the importance of the discovery.

[@kripht]

Sally sparrow!? The angels got you in the end I see.

[@lewilewis3944]

Surprisingly good, I really bought into the story (apart from the young love, totally agree on that point). The British Museum really underlines its role as a top thief and a rewriter of history. No spoilers but I guarantee they will boil your water.

[@edscottdotblog]

Personally I loved the Peggy subplot. It was somehow tied in with the historical theme, the country being on the eve of war forcing everyone to think very deeply about what it is they should be doing. Excellent film.

[@kevinbarron1796]

Just watched it, it’s really good.

[@stom792000]

Just when you think Mark Kermode couldn’t get more god-like, he goes and wears a Comsat Angels t-shirt. I’m looking forward to seeing this film.

[@nickb6260]

I didn't notice his t-shirt! I loved Comsat angels - after the rain brings back memories of my student days 🙂

[@stom792000]

@@nickb6260 Waiting for a Miracle soundtracked my Uni days.

[@davesmith7981]

I have just watched this film it is amazing absolutely fantastic acting some brilliant scenery what an amazing joy to watch such a fantastic film

[@anthonypowick97]

A marvellous film with great actors and a strong storyline .

[@L_Martin]

This movie drove me crazy with the way they kept editing the dialogue on top of the actors NOT SPEAKING THE LINES. Big chunks of dialogue play while we slowly push in on a shot of the same actor, silently staring into the distance. It was like a tick the film couldn't stop resorting to. I want to see the actor speaking the lines! For the love of god. There was also waaaaay too much pipe lighting/smoking. Every other scene was Ralph lighting his bleeding pipe. I didn't like how it was directed either, somehow there was something off about the way it would cut from a close up to a pulled back shot, then back to close up, back to pulled back, it was jarring. [SPOILERS] I was also perplexed by the sub plot of the woman and her gay husband. She takes off her ring at the end...people didn't get divorced in those days did they?? It would have been pretty irregular, but their "separation" was treated in such a modern way - the woman also seemed way too savvy about her husband's interest in the other guy. I don't know, it just seemed too modern. Positives: I loved the treasure coming up - I wish the film had talked more about what they actually found, and what it told us about the person who was buried there (they never talk about the body they find, who he was, though, which was a shame). I was moved by the scene at the end with the mother + son in the ship looking at the night sky. There's a sequence near the beginning where Ralph rushes on his bike to the museum to show something to an archeologist there - I loved how that sequence was edited with him hurrying through different parts of the countryside, that was nicely-done. I liked when Ralph's wife first comes to visit him and she's sat on the bed, and the interplay between them at the end of the scene where she says "Nowhere to sit" and he doesn't hear her and she repeats the line. I suspect this actress has the local accent, either that or she's naturally very good at it - I thought Ralph really inhabited the character much more during his scenes with her. When they're together fussing over the child who rode his bike to come find Basil, she says "Shall I take your bike for you?" And Basil is fussing as well - I thought that moment and the camera following behind the 3 of them really felt "alive" in a way so many other scenes didn't. So that actress + her scenes with Ralph were my favourite in the movie. (sorry for exploding all my thoughts here, I just watched the film and wanted to write them down)

[@oliviaann9946]

glad I'm not the only one who felt this way. The cinematography made this movie unenjoyable for me. Also the way they talk about archeology is the way non experts talk about it with sweeping generalizations and platitudes

[@alisaurus4224]

I added The Dig to my watchlist when it came up on one of the streaming services, but after this review it’s gone to the top of the list.

[@graceygrumble]

The love interest, wasn't interesting. Utterly pointless. As for being 'recognised', I want to know what constitutes 'recent years', because I was taught that Basil Brown was the first to excavate the site, back in 1975.

[@beakahd590]

I didn’t know anything about this until watching the Dig. Enjoyed the film but it didn’t need the love story. It would have been better if they showed what happened to the site, how they put the pieces together and then being put on show.

[@svenhurdurburdursson8765]

I think An archaeologist should look like Phil Harding!

[@mrjamescurry]

Its a lovely bit of Chirt Rock!

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@mrjamescurry Nah! Chaaalk 'n flint's best, ennet?

[@DinoParkAndZooMastery]

The B story romance between Peggy and Rory is a screaming signpost of the unspoken dynamics between Basil and Edith. Arguably necessary for the film to be understood, but could have screamed just a little more quietly. Otherwise a wonderful film that has spurred me on to read Preston's novel.

[@Cinephileofmany]

Likewise I found the Lily James sub plot jarring. I just thought ‘no, go away. Get back to the main characters’. Really didn’t need it. As he says though, great watch.

[@curlykipper]

Why is the 'Peggy' stuff so distracting to some while no mention is made of the 'Stuart' stuff? (I didn't mind either, by the way) Incidentally, there were many scenes, some momentarily caught, of life on the brink of war and for that reason I feel the sub plots of extra marital affairs were adding nuance and colour to what might have ended up as a very lean story.

[@huntingthekaiser6490]

Some good points here but I worry about denigrating the performances of the young lovers. Perhaps the characters were inserted to put youth into the plot but Lily James and Johnny Flynn did a fine job with what they were given.

[@danielevans5286]

I enjoyed it, but I think it got a bit jumbled towards the end

[@sawahtb]

The "Peggy" or Margaret who actually was part of the actual dig was a fine archeologist and scholar and they reduced her to a frustrated dorky young woman willing to have sex in some old field. They made Edith Pretty seem weepy and distracted, yet she contributed one of the greatest treasures the BM has ever had. Over all I enjoyed the movie and give it a thumbs up but I didn't need the side shows. Ralph Fiennes was stellar as always.

[@trevorbarre5616]

"Sex in some old field". Like there's something wrong with this?

[@sawahtb]

@@trevorbarre5616 They made that out to be a big deal. She was a scholar. Did they point that out much? no

[@jonniewrx]

Beautiful film.. Just beautiful..

[@Alun49]

Kermode sums up my feelings about the film. The romantic sub-plot was completely unnecessary and a distraction. That it was about fictional characters seems all the more of a distraction from the main story which is what I wanted to focus on.

[@pja36]

Only Rory was fictional. Peggy was a real person (and the author’s aunt).

[@justgivemethetruth]

This is the kind of movie that so carefully and well done and holographic in the sense that it shows the whole world and not just one or two people, I call this a perfect movie in that it doesn't really matter what it is about but it is so human and resonant that it touches the viewer deeply and makes one think and feel. I'd give it a 10/10.

[@claresamways9534]

Superb, watched it last night. RF was superb, just superb. The supporting character romance was not needed. I will re-watch though, it was a gem and those big skies.

[@ThatLadyBird]

Totally agree, the b-story love quadrangle didnt fit the story at all. I fastforwarded through almost all of those scenes.

[@gerardtom5722]

All the cinemas are closed at the moment so impossible too see any new films :(

[@Buffinator1988]

This is on netflix

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

It's your lucky day, it was made available today (Jan 29th, 2021) on Netflix.

[@GT-wo2oj]

Any new films released are available through other means, streaming, Amazon etc. thats how its been for sometime now.

[@nigelwaters7864]

Netflix isn't the same as the immersive experience of cinema though.

[@pattheplanter]

@@nigelwaters7864 Just sit closer to your screen and pay your kids to scream and throw things. Seriously though, watch with headphones and it is much more immersive than cinema. Comfier chair and you can go to the toilet without missing anything.

[@connordiaz8575]

Really loved it

[@curiousworld7912]

I've been excited about this film - having been to Sutton Hoo, and having seen the artifacts at the British Museum - since I first saw the trailer. It's unfortunate that this subplot was inserted, but I'm still up for the movie.

[@GregorBarclay]

The trailer REALLY gave the impression there was a love story between Fiennes and Mulligan - glad to learn that's not the case as the 23 year age difference would have been all kinds of creepy...

[@pattheplanter]

Edith Pretty was 5 years older than Basil Brown. But...Hollywoodised for audience pandering.

[@moffy2324]

The plane scene was amazing

[@EmlynBoyle]

I really enjoyed this movie. Yes I did feel the romantic subplot felt a bit tacked on - if not harmful overall, otherwise brilliant.

[@billythedog-309]

l thought it was a good film and agree about the sub plot being an unnecessary distraction, but l think for those viewers who know nothing of the Sutton Hoo dig the treasures found should have been given a little prominence. As it is we just get a glimpse of some of the gold artifacts discovered.

[@swray2112]

Beautifuly shot & well acted, although I agree that the subplot with young romance wasn't needed. But what bothered me the most was the clunky, inconsistent editing. One thought maybe they just didn't have enough coverage? I wonder it it was shortened due the pandemic? Haven't seen the filming dates. But horrible flow at times.

[@steverundle8635]

Fabulous Mr. Fiens!

[@jessebrucepinkman9834]

This film is underrated p. It’s going to be one of those films that no one watches and the people who do watch will forget. In my opinion the this is the best film that has come out this year

[@tennysonfordblackbird2087]

Ralph was brilliant and totally believable and great east Anglian accents.

[@styxcreek]

Agree about the subplot, it doesn’t ruin the movie but it feels shoehorned in.

[@DawnDee]

Lovely film but yes, the love story bit was pointless. I’m local to the area so was interested in the accents. On the whole they were ok except for the housekeeper (Mrs Lyons - Ellie Piercy). I would have left that bit on the cutting room floor...

[@squidge125]

Yes hers stood out like a sore thumb, but it was a high bar

[@wojciechkowalik4949]

Imagine "Christina’s World" painting, but suddenly Netflix comes in and paints over 4 other people making out next to the crippled lady - this is "The Dig".

[@uilleachan]

Thanks for the review, I'll give it a whirl

[@bobbyszt2619]

Agree, the romantic side plot just saps important screen time from Fiennes, mulligan, and the ship...

[@smkh2890]

I enjoyed this, but it is clear to me that the style really derives from Terrence Malik movies.

[@charlie5115]

I tried to enjoy this film, but I honestly couldn’t stop thinking how miscast Carey Mulligan was. I think she’s a wonderful actress so this isn’t a dig on her (pun intended), but the real Edith Pretty was 50+ years at this point in the story. I couldn’t stop imagining someone else like Helen McCrory, Fiona Shaw or Emily Watson playing the part. Just felt a bit.. when Carey, as a 30-something, was essentially suffering from heart failure..

[@zabozix]

it was only after watching the movie and researching Carey Mulligan that i found out she s only 35 yrs old and she s playing a character 5 yrs older than the character of Ralph. If you are not familiar with her, you d totally think she s 50+ turns out she s 5 yrs younger than me lool. I honestly was hooked on the movie from start to finish because of her. i was hoping she d be the center of the movie.

[@justgivemethetruth]

I liked the side-plot with the wife and the RAF pilot ... it was interesting to think about the roles and how life has changed in the mean time, and it gives you something to think about too ... the movie would be thinner without it, and it brings in the presence of the war and the reality of soldiers and pilots. Those two were kindred spirits but also not in a physical way, but they did not back away from it. And to even bring that up as a drawback is too much ( bad ) criticism. To being that up was just petty.

[@DukGef]

I strongly disagree with Mark Kermode (and a few posters here): The so-called subplot was very moving and the actress playing Peggy was really great! I'm 52 by the way ... not really part of the "younger demographic".

[@jameswburke]

I agree with you. It was poignant to think that Rory would likely be killed or maimed in the looming war. The other RAF 'warrior' in the boat was part of that doomed generation. It's not just aimed at archaeologists ;-)

[@Nix-xo9js]

That sublot was a glaring error. Exactly what i felt.

[@Nix-xo9js]

@@oddunb6190 wait who was gay i've forgotten it already. I meant the relationship between Lily James and the man.

[@davidk6271]

Was it me , or were there a couple of moments of dialogue when the actors lips weren’t moving?

[@tomwh1993]

You let this film get off lightly with that love plot. They brought in two characters at least halfway through just so an incredibly boring love triangle could exist. I found it truly bizzare and it killed my enjoyment of the film. Its a real shame because I had been really enjoying it up until that point.

[@anju04aa]

The Peggy-Rory plot wasn’t in any way taking away the impact of the movie.....it was brief and fleeting ......I enjoyed The Dig last night....

[@jaytee9207]

As is so often the case these days, the photography, casting and production values are marvelous, but the screenplay is a profound disappointment. It's so often on the cusp of something significant when it suddenly lurches off into another wandering subplot. Much of the story is false, of course: the cousin and the romantic substory are fabricated, there were really two seasons of digs, with another buried ship found prior to the the famous one. Edith Pretty was in her 50s at the time, etc. I think there's a valiant attempt to have the various subplots revolve around the concept of the buried vessel, but it doesn't really work. In the end, the film concludes with an emphasis Brown and his relationship to the excavation, which is where the movie starts. In between those endpoints, it's all a mass of knotted yarn.

[@Richard-hv5hh]

Marks voice in this and his look keep making me think of Stephen Merchant!!

[@caravanstuff2827]

It's ok.... given the caliber of the actors I think the director dropped the ball...it was to superficial and distant....both in.camera work and direction .... worth a watch....but it won't win any Oscars!!!.🤔

[@edwardwilliamson1]

Isn't it ralph? Not ray?

[@shougokawada8491]

Ralph is traditionally pronounced as "Rafe".

[@Silviafranzetti]

I agree. The subplot is not right. I hated the sex scene in the end.

[@Clyde7709]

I also found the Peggy plot distracting but I think it was more than 'young sexy stuff'. 'Life is fleeting'. Why do we care what is in the barrow? Making life matter presented in simple terms and reality. I.e. Peggy's marriage. Particularly poignant with WW2 looming and mums failing health.

[@vladtheimpaler8995]

I think it was a good story. The romantic sub plot criticised here was an Important comment on the temporary fragility of life. That and the Importance of not wasting it. It was not out of place. Watch a documentary if all you want is accuracy. There weren’t any blacks in it which was a bit supremacist.😀

[@doncin3141]

Indiana Jones meets Last of the Summer Wine....

[@ryanlindauer7083]

could not agree more about the lily james subplot!

[@atheistcory4174]

I'm amazed, Mr Kermode, you did not pick up on the massive influence of Terrence Malick on this film. For example, characters talk in abstract narration whilst engaged in other activities a la The Thin Red Line( featuring Ben Chaplin, who also appears here).

[@costeris35]

Is that Malick’s influence? Interesting. At first I thought it was just spectacularly bad ADI, but when I realised it was deliberate I quite appreciated it, there seemed to be elements of a much better film here.

[@HeyouCrow]

Could see Carey Mulligan, doing some MC 🎭 portrayal of ℹ️ Zoe Wanamaker, late 80's during pre-Globe 'Rose Theatre' *digg-Site 🕰️🇬🇧., The Fiennes, clan know .., v% many times. 😃

[@richardrobertson4318]

Seen it a great film

[@Yanto-Bardic]

The kind of Movie one can return to again and again and ....and never grow weary of...

[@leowilliamcullen]

Stuart Lee has let himself go.

[@thejoin4687]

One of LucasArts' great productions.