Digging for Fire
Digging for Fire is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed by Joe Swanberg and co-written by Swanberg and Jake Johnson.[1][2] The story centers on a married couple, Tim and Lee, who are house-sitting a luxurious Hollywood Hills property for a wealthy client; while there with their young son, Tim discovers a human bone and a rusty gun in the brush, sparking his curiosity and leading the pair on separate, introspective adventures over a single weekend.[1][2] Known for its improvisational dialogue and ensemble-driven narrative, the film explores themes of marriage, parenthood, and personal discovery through a loose, character-focused structure typical of Swanberg's mumblecore style.[3] The film features a notable ensemble cast, including leads Jake Johnson as Tim and Rosemarie DeWitt as Lee, alongside supporting roles by Orlando Bloom, Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Chris Messina, Mike Birbiglia, Judith Light, and Sam Elliott.[1] Produced independently with a budget that emphasized naturalistic performances over scripted precision, Digging for Fire premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2015, before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 21, 2015, distributed by The Orchard.[2] With a runtime of 83 minutes, it blends elements of drama, comedy, and mystery, though its improvisational approach has drawn comparisons to Swanberg's earlier works like Drinking Buddies.[1][2] Critically, Digging for Fire received mixed reviews, earning a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews, with critics praising its relaxed ensemble dynamics and emotional depth while noting occasional meandering pacing.[2] On Metacritic, it holds a score of 69 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[4] Roger Ebert's review highlighted its humor and star-studded cameos, awarding it three out of four stars for capturing the "kooky" essence of marital exploration.[3] Despite its festival buzz, the film did not garner major awards but solidified Swanberg's reputation for intimate, actor-centric storytelling.[2]Synopsis and cast
Plot
Tim (Jake Johnson) and his wife Lee (Rosemarie DeWitt), a young couple with a toddler son named Jude, arrive at a luxurious house in the Hollywood Hills to house-sit for one of Lee's yoga clients while the owners are away.[5] While clearing brush and doing yard work with their dog, Tim discovers a rusty old revolver and what appears to be a human bone buried in a dry creek bed near the property.[3] Excited by the potential mystery, Tim reports the find to the local police, who dismiss it as insignificant unless a full body is uncovered and advise him to stop digging since it's not his land.[5] Lee, more practical and concerned about maintaining the job, urges Tim to focus on their overdue taxes instead of pursuing the discovery, but Tim becomes increasingly fixated on the idea of buried treasure or a hidden crime.[6] To give Tim space to handle the paperwork, Lee decides to take Jude to visit her wealthy parents—her mother (Judith Light) and stepfather (Sam Elliott)—but soon opts for a night out with her yoga friend Squiggy (Melanie Lynskey) and another couple, including Ron Livingston's character, seeking some personal freedom amid the strains of marriage and parenthood.[5] Meanwhile, alone at the house, Tim invites his brother-in-law Phil (Mike Birbiglia), a more grounded friend who tries to keep him on task with the taxes, but the gathering escalates when Tim's old buddies Ray (Sam Rockwell), a free-spirited adventurer, and Billy T. (Chris Messina) arrive with two women, Alicia (Anna Kendrick) and Max (Brie Larson).[6] The group drinks heavily, swims naked in the pool, and debates the implications of the find, with Ray fueling Tim's obsession by suggesting it could be the site of a mob hit or lost pirate gold, leading to comedic and introspective conversations about masculinity, risk-taking, and escaping routine life.[3] As the night progresses, Tim and his friends sporadically dig at the site, unearthing a few more small bones and teeth, while flirtations emerge—particularly between Tim and Max, who shares his intrigue over the mystery and joins him for a late-night excavation that blurs into a near-romantic dinner.[5] Parallel to Tim's chaotic evening of male bonding and half-hearted sleuthing, Lee's night out takes unexpected turns as she reflects on her desires for independence and excitement outside her marriage.[6] At a local bar, an aggressive stranger harasses her, but she is rescued by Ben (Orlando Bloom), a charming but enigmatic motorcycle-riding restaurant manager with a bandaged hand from a recent accident.[5] Their chance encounter evolves into a flirtatious connection, with Ben fighting off the aggressor and later allowing Lee to tend to his wound at a nearby house, sparking candid discussions about relationships, fidelity, and the monotony of domesticity that tempt her toward a brief escape.[3] As the separate adventures unfold through the night, crosscutting scenes highlight the couple's unspoken midlife tensions—Tim's pull toward boyish adventure and Lee's yearning for autonomy—culminating in moments where both nearly cross lines in their encounters.[5] The next morning, Lee returns to the house, where Tim confesses his distractions and the minimal additional findings from the dig, which turn out to be animal remains rather than evidence of foul play, deflating the mystery but allowing the couple to reconnect through honest conversation about their needs and fears.[6] The film closes with Tim and Lee embracing a renewed sense of partnership, choosing to prioritize their family over individual impulses, as they leave the property behind.[3]Cast
The film features an ensemble cast. The principal roles are played by the following actors:- Jake Johnson as Tim, the house-sitter who discovers the bone.[7]
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Lee, Tim's wife.[7]
- Sam Rockwell as Ray, Tim's adventurous friend.[7]
- Anna Kendrick as Alicia, a woman who arrives with Tim's friends.[7]
- Orlando Bloom as Ben, a restaurant manager.[7]
- Melanie Lynskey as Squiggy, another of Lee's friends.[8]
- Mike Birbiglia as Phil, one of Tim's friends.[8]
- Chris Messina as Billy T, a friend in Tim's group.[3]
- Brie Larson as Max.[8]
- Ron Livingston as Bob.[8]
- Sam Elliott as Pop Pop.[8]
- Judith Light as Grandma.[8]
- Jude Swanberg as Jude, the couple's child.[7]
- Alicia Van Couvering as Cashier, a minor acquaintance.[7]
- Timothy Simons as Yoga Couple member.[7]
- Jenny Slate as Yoga Couple member.[7]
- Steve Berg as Paul.[9]
- Kent Osborne as Adam.[9]
- Jane Adams as Woman on Beach.[8]
- Tom Bower as Tom the Neighbor.[10]