Kristen Wiig and Matt Damon in Downsizing
Matt Damon is Paul Safranek, a man whose name is never correctly pronounced, and whose life never seems to work out the way it should. He and his wife decide to make a fresh start in Leisureland, a community for those who have chosen to be downsized - shrunk down to a few inches tall - in order to reduce their footprint on the planet, and also to be able to afford the life of leisure and luxury that being small enables. Downsizing tells the story of how new technology can change the world dramatically, and at the same time not at all. Paul's life in Leisureland is not what he expected, and he struggles to find his place in his new world.
Christoph Waltz contributes some zaniness, but it's far from his best role. Hong Chau really steals the film as a Vietnamese political activist who is downsized by her government as punishment for her disruptive actions. Her character Ngoc Lan Tran is blunt, funny and then surprisingly very caring.
The film takes some unexpected turns; it's funny and warm and sad, and exploring how the downsizing technology might affect society is pretty interesting. It was entertaining, but for me it didn't break through from good to great.
TIFF 2017 Overview
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