Matt Damon’s Downsizing opens Venice film festival and impresses critics
Part satire, part ecological message, part rom-com, Damon’s miniature adventure strikes a chord with reviewers for its creativity and humour
The Venice film festival opened with Downsizing, a sci-fi-inspired drama starring a miniaturised Matt Damon that earned effusive reviews.
Occupying a curtain-raising slot that has come to be seen as a launchpad for films with Oscar ambitions, Alexander Payne’s part satirical, part save-the-planet film was hailed as a breath of fresh air from the Sideways and Nebraska director.
The Hollywood Reporter said Payne had “hit the creative jackpot”, while Variety welcomed a “ticklish and resonant crowd-pleaser for grown-ups”.
London’s Evening Standard was more reserved, praising the film as “often very funny” but bemoaning the abandonment of its initial satirical edge.
Set in the near future, the film is based on the premise that scientists have found a way to literally reduce humanity’s environmental footprint by downsizing humans to 12.5cm versions of themselves.