Kindred spirits Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes preside over the discovery of the Anglo-Saxon ship burial in this gently understated period drama
This bittersweet tale of the unearthing of the Sutton Hoo treasures on the eve of the second world war has gentle charm to spare. Adapted by screenwriter Moira Buffini from the historical novel by John Preston, it’s a melancholy whimsy about common purpose, new friendship and the persistence of the past, bogged down occasionally by a somewhat superfluous romantic subplot but buoyed up by Mike Eley’s lush cinematography, which beautifully captures the lonely beauty of the open English landscapes.
Ralph Fiennes is Basil Brown, the self-taught, working-class archaeologist who wears his immense learning lightly, and who rides his panniered bike under imposing skies, now darkening with the impending threat of war with Germany. Basil’s demeanour is quiet and unassuming, but there’s a steely defiance beneath the surface deference,...
This bittersweet tale of the unearthing of the Sutton Hoo treasures on the eve of the second world war has gentle charm to spare. Adapted by screenwriter Moira Buffini from the historical novel by John Preston, it’s a melancholy whimsy about common purpose, new friendship and the persistence of the past, bogged down occasionally by a somewhat superfluous romantic subplot but buoyed up by Mike Eley’s lush cinematography, which beautifully captures the lonely beauty of the open English landscapes.
Ralph Fiennes is Basil Brown, the self-taught, working-class archaeologist who wears his immense learning lightly, and who rides his panniered bike under imposing skies, now darkening with the impending threat of war with Germany. Basil’s demeanour is quiet and unassuming, but there’s a steely defiance beneath the surface deference,...
- 1/31/2021
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on January 28th, 2021, reviewing the new film “The Dig,” streaming on Netflix beginning January 29th, 2021, Plus a preview of the virtual and online Sundance Film Festival.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
In “The Dig,” Carey Mulligan portrays a British matriarch named Edith Pretty, who owns land that she believes contains ancient artifacts. She hires a local self-taught archeologist, Basil Brown (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes), who makes one of the greatest British treasure discovery in history – a burial ship from England’s pre-history – right as World War II was beginning.
“The Dig” is available to stream on Netflix beginning January 29th. Featuring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Ben Chaplin and Archie Barnes. Screenplay adapted by Moira Buffini, based on the novel by John Preston. Directed by Simon Stone. Rated “PG-13”
Click here for Patrick McDonald’s full on-air...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
In “The Dig,” Carey Mulligan portrays a British matriarch named Edith Pretty, who owns land that she believes contains ancient artifacts. She hires a local self-taught archeologist, Basil Brown (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes), who makes one of the greatest British treasure discovery in history – a burial ship from England’s pre-history – right as World War II was beginning.
“The Dig” is available to stream on Netflix beginning January 29th. Featuring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Ben Chaplin and Archie Barnes. Screenplay adapted by Moira Buffini, based on the novel by John Preston. Directed by Simon Stone. Rated “PG-13”
Click here for Patrick McDonald’s full on-air...
- 1/30/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In “The Dig,” when various characters make their way out to the location that gives the film its name, the sky is rarely the same. As the story progresses from a one-man job that may or may not validate a widower’s curiosity to a more momentous historical find worth dramatizing over 80 years later, the clouds over Suffolk come and go, with all the corresponding shades overhead.
That simple avoidance of painting this whole tale with a single brush is one key way that director Simon Stone zags against some of the standard pitfalls of historical retellings. Based on the 2007 John Preston novel of the same name, “The Dig” also takes its cues from the details surrounding the 1939 Sutton Hoo discovery, which found centuries-old remnants of a past civilization buried beneath unassuming mounds on the property of Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan).
In “The Dig,” Edith enlists the help of local...
That simple avoidance of painting this whole tale with a single brush is one key way that director Simon Stone zags against some of the standard pitfalls of historical retellings. Based on the 2007 John Preston novel of the same name, “The Dig” also takes its cues from the details surrounding the 1939 Sutton Hoo discovery, which found centuries-old remnants of a past civilization buried beneath unassuming mounds on the property of Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan).
In “The Dig,” Edith enlists the help of local...
- 1/29/2021
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Beginning (Dea Kulumbegashvili)
Originally a Cannes selection, then coming to San Sebastian, TIFF, and NYFF where it picked up deserved awards, the Georgian film Beginning is a difficult, sometimes brutal film to watch and then unpack. Déa Kulumbegashvili’s debut is a look at the confines, both religious and familial, put on one woman’s (Ia Sukhitashvili) life as she wrestles with outer and inner demons. Both a lonely and patient film, Beginning acts as mirror and portal, creating turmoil and strife for audience and subject. Challenging yet rewarding, Beginning is phenomenal. – Michael F.
Where to Stream: Mubi (free for 30 days)
The Dig (Simon Stone)
When Simon Stone’s...
Beginning (Dea Kulumbegashvili)
Originally a Cannes selection, then coming to San Sebastian, TIFF, and NYFF where it picked up deserved awards, the Georgian film Beginning is a difficult, sometimes brutal film to watch and then unpack. Déa Kulumbegashvili’s debut is a look at the confines, both religious and familial, put on one woman’s (Ia Sukhitashvili) life as she wrestles with outer and inner demons. Both a lonely and patient film, Beginning acts as mirror and portal, creating turmoil and strife for audience and subject. Challenging yet rewarding, Beginning is phenomenal. – Michael F.
Where to Stream: Mubi (free for 30 days)
The Dig (Simon Stone)
When Simon Stone’s...
- 1/29/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
A quick methadone hit for anyone still experiencing Merchant-Ivory withdrawal symptoms, The Dig (streaming on Netflix starting January 29th) is a throwback to a bygone era in more ways than one. The year is 1939, the countryside is English, the upper lips are most definitely stiff. Britain stands on the verge of war, as the Raf planes constantly buzzing past can attest. Behind a large manor in Suffolk, there are a number of jutting, earthen mounds that suggest the possibility of ancient artifacts buried beneath the soil. Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan...
- 1/28/2021
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
When Simon Stone’s The Dig begins with Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) towing his bicycle across the water in a boat towards Sutton Hoo, it’s natural to align our expectations with an archeological adventure. Because he’s labeled “difficult” by the museum that more or less told Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) her desire to excavate the mounds present on her land isn’t worth their effort with war looming, the two prove themselves to be a perfect pair of underestimated and ignored figures on the cusp of finding something great. The first whiff of the treasure she always believed was there and he expertly deciphers the whereabouts of finally turns the heads of those who initially turned their backs and we settle in for a conflict amidst the dirt.
While Moira Buffini’s script (as adapted from John Preston’s novel) does include that inevitable struggle (Does ownership of...
While Moira Buffini’s script (as adapted from John Preston’s novel) does include that inevitable struggle (Does ownership of...
- 1/25/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Netflix has launched a host of first look images for the original film ‘The Dig’ featuring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James.
Based on the Novel By John Preston, the story centres on a wealthy widow as WWII looms and 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.
Lily James as Peggy Preston. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021 Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021 (L-r): Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty, Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021
Directed by Simon Stone, the film stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan.
Also in news – Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh to reunite once more for ‘No Sudden Move’
A release date is yet to be announced.
Based on the Novel By John Preston, the story centres on a wealthy widow as WWII looms and 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.
Lily James as Peggy Preston. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021 Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021 (L-r): Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty, Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown. Cr. Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2021
Directed by Simon Stone, the film stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan.
Also in news – Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh to reunite once more for ‘No Sudden Move’
A release date is yet to be announced.
- 10/29/2020
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Lily James is in negotiations to join Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in Dig, a period drama set up at Netflix.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing what is shaping up to be a thoroughly British pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches, something that proves true. She then turns her property into an archeological site.
Mulligan plays the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes is Basil Brown,...
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing what is shaping up to be a thoroughly British pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches, something that proves true. She then turns her property into an archeological site.
Mulligan plays the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes is Basil Brown,...
Lily James is in negotiations to join Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in Dig, a period drama set up at Netflix.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing what is shaping up to be a thoroughly British pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches, something that proves true. She then turns her property into an archeological site.
Mulligan plays the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes is Basil Brown,...
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing what is shaping up to be a thoroughly British pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches, something that proves true. She then turns her property into an archeological site.
Mulligan plays the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes is Basil Brown,...
Carey Mulligan is final negotiations to star opposite Ralph Fiennes in the period drama The Dig at Netflix.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches. The hunch ultimately pays off.
Mulligan will be playing the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes will play Basil Brown, a local archeologist that works with the widow only to see himself pushed aside by museum curators.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing the pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing. ...
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches. The hunch ultimately pays off.
Mulligan will be playing the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes will play Basil Brown, a local archeologist that works with the widow only to see himself pushed aside by museum curators.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing the pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing. ...
- 8/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Carey Mulligan is final negotiations to star opposite Ralph Fiennes in the period drama The Dig at Netflix.
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches. The hunch ultimately pays off.
Mulligan will be playing the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes will play Basil Brown, a local archeologist that works with the widow only to see himself pushed aside by museum curators.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing the pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing. ...
Based on a true story and set at the turn of World War II, Dig focuses on a widow (Mulligan) with a hunch that her land contains buried riches. The hunch ultimately pays off.
Mulligan will be playing the widow, Edith Pretty, while Fiennes will play Basil Brown, a local archeologist that works with the widow only to see himself pushed aside by museum curators.
Simon Stone (The Daughter) is directing the pic, with Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing. ...
- 8/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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