Such a frustrating disappointment

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

In 1976, America's bicentennial, four friends - amateur photographer Paul Rudd (as Hunt), married man Ken Marino (as Frankie Lozo), promiscuous Ron Eldard (as Jack), and druggie Josh Hamilton (as Cons) - fret about losing their livelihood as Long Island, NY clam "Diggers" as the economy changes to favor corporate claming. The women in their lives include Mr. Rudd's sister Maura Tierney (as Gina), his city flame Lauren Ambrose (as Zoey), and Mr. Marino's perpetually pregnant wife Sarah Paulson (as Julie).It is interesting that Islip born co-star Marino also wrote the story, because the drama really comes to life during the scene when Ms. Paulson tells him she is expecting yet another child. The couple's situation is real, well-played, and timeless. Marino subsequent frustration after suiting up to fill out a job application leads to probably the film's best moment. Otherwise, to quote Hamlet, "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," in director Katherine Dieckmann's setting and character driven drama.***** Diggers (9/9/06) Katherine Dieckmann ~ Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Maura Tierney, Lauren Ambrose

Diggers -well made small budget movie about the Baymen of the 1970s on Long Island.Good ensemble cast featuring Paul Rudd and Maura Tierney as a brother and sister dealing with the passing of their father.A compelling mixture of comedy and drama-we follow 4 diggers as they deal with the encroachment of a clamdigging corporation and family troubles.Ron Eldard,Lauren Amrose,Sarah Paulson & Ken Marino round out the cast.The DVD has an hour long documentary on the Baymen,a 30 minute featurette on the movie and a commentary track by the writer and director.Authentic feel and a sharp dialogue make this a good snapshot of the 70s and the world of the clamdiggers.Worth a rental. B

Speaking as someone who actually was a full time digger on Great South Bay in Patchogue during the era of this movie, I can say to those who weren't, you will not get very much of a handle on what life was really like for us, not that I didn't recognize a lot of the characters in this film. I do applaud the filmmakers for their effort on trying to recreate as much of the clammers water world as they could with the budget they had to work with. The few period clam boats they could find were fairly accurate even if many were way underpowered with what looks like 15 horsepower period engines. I of course enjoyed the few Long Island locations they used like the Silly Lilly and abandoned Cerullo's fishing stations. That said as a movie it was just OK. Not awful, (you want an awful 70's movie made in the 70's? watch "Two Lane Blacktop " sometime, but it was certainly not great either. The sad commentary I think is that like the industry that once supplied 70% of the worlds shellfish and is long gone, the days of trying to make a movie for a million and half dollars today are long gone too. It seems to me the cast and crew gave it an honest shot though.

I saw this movie at SXSW in Austin right after attending a panel about the making of the movie. The film was originally to be directed by funny man David Wain of Stella fame, but he pulled out to direct "the Ten" which is an amazing film. I expected the film to be funny. Ken Marion, who wrote it, is a hilarious comedian. Paul Rudd, the lead actor, has been in comedies almost exclusively since Wet Hot American Summer and David Wain, who produced the film, is hilarious. The movie, however, was very serious. It had some amazingly hilarious moments, but overall it was a moving, serious film. I was most amazed at the fact that they pulled it off with style. A bunch of comedians made a moving, well structured, meaningful, fulfilling drama. Everyone should see it.