Best of the ‘Gest …The Dig

[originally published on February 2, 2021]

Going to the movies is different these days. At 5:30 pm on January 29, we (Silverbelle Sandy and moi, Silverback Stephen) were just finishing our nightly cribbage game (she won) and were about to launch into our nightly dual discussion of “What do you want for dinner?” and “Do you have any plans for the evening?” when she got a text from her friend, Silverbelle Joanne, saying that she was going to watch a new Netflix movie called The Dig.

“Did she tell you anything about it?” I asked.

“It’s set in the English countryside,” she answered.

“Who’s in it?”

“I dunno.”

“What about dinner?” I asked, always thinking about my next meal.

“We’ll figure that out when we get hungry.”

That settled, we reverse our thirteen-step commute to our upstairs viewing room, smaller, but more cozy than the downstairs theater. I held the remote to my mouth and said “Netflix The Dig” into the remote, and moments later we were watching the same-day premier of The Dig, starring Ralph Fiennes who, we both agreed, bears a resemblance to Silverback Alec. See what you think.

Midway through the film, we got hungry. We paused the film and went downstairs to make a snack plate of Jujubees, Malted Milk Balls, Raisinets, and Boston Baked Beans. Just kidding! We had avocado filled with mango salsa, cheese & crackers, homemade dilly beans and bread & butter pickles from last summer’s garden, and pear slices. OK, I admit it, I also put some pretzels on my plate.

By 7:30 pm we were done with both the film and repast. What’s the film about? You don’t need me to tell you that. Ask your phone! Do I look like Rotten Tomatoes? Roger Ebert? What you need to know is that both SB Sandy and I gave it a Double-Thump, and 5 Oo-oos. I will add that I was very relieved to see a film without explosions, guns, spaceships, wronged women, crooked cops, drug deals, or young people chain-smoking cigarettes. OK, Ralph Fiennes puffed on his pipe occasionally and wore tweeds, but I could envision SB Alec doing that. Not these days, of course, but back in the 30s.

The Dig is a great story, beautifully told, with three-dimensional characters, portrayed by top-quality players, that has a lesson for all of us.

And … here’s what it’s about.