19. Downsizing; movie review

DOWNSIZING
Cert 15
135 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, drugs misuse, sex references

Studios spend hundreds of millions of pounds on special effects but there is still no substitute for the heady combination of great writing and brilliant acting.
While Downsizing certainly features the former, it is the latter which makes it such a wonderful movie.
I have previously eulogised about Alexander Payne's superb writing talents after watching The Descendants and Nebraska.
During the latter, he developed a wonderful character, played by June Squibb, which earned them both huge critical acclaim.
In Downsizing, he and co-author Jim Taylor have come up with another gem in a Vietnamese dissident, played by Hong Chau.
But she only appears halfway through a movie which is already well into its flow by then.

Payne's film has the premise that scientists have discovered the answer to the drain on world resources by miniaturising humans.
Those who move to min-me complexes are given the incentive of their money being worth many times its value, enabling them to live in mansions and enjoy swathes of leisure time.
Damon's character finds the new life, on which he had stored such hope, is not quite what he expected in more ways than one.
But, after initial dismay, he sees a shaft of optimism through his extravagant neighbour (the fabulously quirky Christolph Waltz) and his cleaner (the wonderfully funny Chau).
Downsizing draws parallels with the great emigrations and also with modern-day prejudice.
It also poses the deep question about whether, given the opportunity to draw a blank canvas where everyone is equal, human nature dictates that differences will emerge.
But above everything, it is funny. I laughed ten times which would put it among the very best comedies of the year.
Yet, like Nebraska, it is far from a conventional laugh-along. It addresses serious subjects, throwing in the giggles when the audience leasts expects it.
The only question left after its screening at Nottingham Cineworld was where it is going to fit among the rankings of the very high quality films which have already been released in 2018.
It won't knock Three Billboards off its perch but it will be among the very best.

Reasons to watch: Wonderfully original with superb writing by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Reasons to avoid: Might be too fanciful for some

Laughs: ten
Jumps: none
Vomit: yes
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 9.5/10

Director's quote - Alexander Payne: "It is the stuff of comedy when you can take an absurd idea and treat it earnestly."

The big question: If we started with a blank canvas, how long before the same old differences materialise?

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