Support the Free Press | Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism matters
Salt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since 1984. Donate today to ensure the legacy continues.
Film Search
click to enlarge
In hindsight, it’s obvious from the first minute that Alexander Payne isn’t in control of what his ostensible satire is about, as he wastes time on a prologue that ultimately has nothing to do with the focus. It does address the high-concept premise central to the marketing campaign: a scientific breakthrough allows humans to permanently shrink to around 5 inches tall, and enter tailor-made communities where they can stretch their resources. Matt Damon stars as Paul Safranek, one such “downsizer,” and for a while the movie gets laughs out of the peculiar logistics of his new circumstances. But ultimately, the narrative is a pointed critique of fleeing societal ills instead of confronting them—which would have been a pretty bold idea if Payne hadn’t taken sooooo long to get there, and spent so much of the intervening journey with a Vietnamese immigrant character (Hong Chau) whose shrill broken English feels like it’s played for cheap yuks. Christoph Waltz gets to showboat enjoyably as Paul’s shady neighbor, and it’s hard to completely dismiss the story’s thematic ambition. Unfortunately, it’s the sprawling story itself that could do with some serious condensing.
Official Site: www.paramount.com/movies/downsizing
Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke and Diana Pokorny
Cast: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Jason Sudeikis, Udo Kier, Neil Harris, Laura Dern, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Joaquim de Almeida, Margo Martindale, Pepe Serna and Rolf Lassgård
Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke and Diana Pokorny
Cast: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Jason Sudeikis, Udo Kier, Neil Harris, Laura Dern, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Joaquim de Almeida, Margo Martindale, Pepe Serna and Rolf Lassgård
