Downsizing (2017)

Director: Alexander Payne
Stars: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau
Runtime: 135 minutes

Performances: 7/10
Screenplay: 6/10
Special Effects: 7/10
Costumes/Makeup: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 5/10

Verdict: Alexander Payne is without a doubt a talented director, but there's a reason why his most acclaimed films ("The Descendants", "Nebraska" or "Sideways") are based on best-sellers rather than original stories: his clear difficulties when it comes to writing. "Downsizing", written by Payne, had all the components of a great, or at least fun, flick. It stars Matt Damon and is set in a world where a solution to overpopulation is found in the form of a procedure that allows people to become only a few inches tall. The concept is a brilliant one, and the first 30 minutes of the film, despite a few hiccups, are pretty interesting. And then it became gradually worse. The story started to drag, became filled with exposition scenes, and wasn’t taking any risks. That is until the last 35 minutes, when the film takes a completely different direction that I found ridiculous and absolutely hated. As for the performances, they were alright. Matt Damon’s role wasn’t very demanding and he fit his character pretty well, Christoph Waltz’s accent didn’t really work for me, but his presence was always fresh and enjoyable. Hong Chau, on the other hand, and against all odds, gave by far the most interesting and entertaining performance and was one, if not the, best aspect of the movie. “Downsizing” really could’ve been something big, but was unfortunately downsized to a forgettable picture by Payne’s writing, and that is too bad.

Final Grade: 6/10