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Downsizing (film)

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Downsizing
Teaser poster
Directed byAlexander Payne
Starring
CinematographyPhedon Papamichael
Edited byKevin Tent
Music byRolfe Kent
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • August 30, 2017 (2017-08-30) (Venice)
  • December 22, 2017 (2017-12-22) (United States)
Running time
135 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Downsizing is a 2017 American science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Payne and Jim Taylor. The film tells about the American and his wife, which going on a procedure to shrink their bodies. The film stars Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Jason Sudeikis, and Kristen Wiig. Principal photography on the film began in Ontario, Canada on April 1, 2016.

The film premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival on August 30, 2017, and is set to be released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on December 22, 2017.

Premise

Downsizing imagines what might happen if, as a solution to over-population, Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to 5 inches (13 cm) tall and propose a 200-year global transition from big to small. People soon realize how much further money goes in a miniaturized world, and with the promise of a better life, everyman Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in Omaha in order to become small and move to a new downsized community—a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.

Cast

Amongst the cameos are character actress Margo Martindale as a miniaturized woman on a shuttle, James Van Der Beek as an anesthesiologist, Niecy Nash as a Leisureland Salesperson, Donna Lynne Champlin as a Leisureland Administrator, and Don Lake as Leisureland Guide Matt. Additionally, Neil Patrick Harris and Laura Dern cameo as Jeff and Laura Lonowski, miniaturized sales reps. Brigette Lundy-Paine plays Dusan’s girlfriend. Joaquim de Almeida plays Conference Director Dr. Oswaldo Pereira. Alec Baldwin and Bruce Willis appear in undisclosed roles.

Production

During the seven-year hiatus between the releases of Sideways (2004) and The Descendants (2011), Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor spent two and a half years on the script for Downsizing, which was originally meant to have been the director's next film after Sideways. However, the project was superseded by the productions of The Descendants and Nebraska (2013).[7] On November 5, 2014, it was officially announced that Downsizing will be Payne's next film after Nebraska.[8] 20th Century Fox was originally going to distribute the film until October 2, 2015, when it was announced that Paramount Pictures acquired distribution rights.[9] On January 8, 2015, it was announced that Annapurna Pictures will finance and produce the film.[10] Payne's production company, Ad Hominem Enterprises, is also involved with the production.[8] Payne and Mark Johnson would produce the film, whose script was co-written by Payne and Jim Taylor.[2]

Rolfe Kent composed the film's score.[11]

Casting

Reese Witherspoon has been attached to the project since 2009, when Paul Giamatti and Sacha Baron Cohen were both originally set to star.[12][13] On November 5, 2014, Damon was officially cast in the film.[14] On January 7, 2015, it was confirmed that Witherspoon was still participating in the project, marking her first collaboration with Payne since Election (1999).[15][16] On January 8, it was announced that Alec Baldwin, Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Sudeikis have joined the cast.[17] On March 10, 2016, Christoph Waltz and Hong Chau joined the film.[2] On March 29, 2016, it was announced that Kristen Wiig had replaced Witherspoon for the female lead role.[4] In August 2016, it was announced that character actress Margo Martindale had been cast in a small role.[18]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began on April 1, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at York University. Filming also took place in Omaha, Los Angeles, and Trollfjorden in Norway.[19][20][21][22]

Release

Downsizing is scheduled to be released on December 22, 2017, by Paramount Pictures.[23]

Marketing

A teaser was released on August 30, 2017, with a full trailer debuting on September 12, 2017.[24]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64% based on 53 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[25] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as "big and beautiful", highlighting the direction and the lead performances, and saying "this is a deeply humane film that, like the best Hollywood classics, feels both entirely of its moment and timeless. It was a risky roll of the dice, but one that hits the creative jackpot."[3] Xan Brooks of The Guardian gave Downsizing five out of five stars, labeling the film as "Alexander Payne's miniature masterpiece."[27]

References

  1. ^ "Downsizing". tiff. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Kroll, Justin (March 10, 2016). "Christoph Waltz and Hong Chau Joins Matt Damon in Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  3. ^ a b McCarthy, Todd (August 30, 2017). "'Downsizing': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Jr, Mike Fleming (March 29, 2016). "Kristen Wiig Joins Matt Damon In Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing' After Reese Witherspoon Exit". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  5. ^ Hoehne, Helen (October 21, 2016). "Udo Kier: A Vampire in Palm Springs". Golden Globes. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Rolf Lassgård får roll i storfilm". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). TT. 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  7. ^ Shoard, Catherine (November 6, 2014). "Matt Damon downsizing with Alexander Payne". The Guardian. Retrieved March 12, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b Jue, Teresa (November 5, 2014). "Matt Damon to star in Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 12, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Busch, Anita (October 2, 2015). "Paramount Pulls In Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing' With Matt Damon, Reese Witherspoon". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (January 8, 2015). "Annapurna Steps Up For Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing'; What A Cast!". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  11. ^ "Rolfe Kent to Score Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing'". FilmMusicReporter. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys (January 7, 2015). "Reese Witherspoon Reunites With Alexander Payne for 'Downsizing'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 12, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Lambie, Ryan (October 6, 2015). "Alexander Payne to Shrink Matt Damon in Downsizing". Den of Geek. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  14. ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (November 5, 2014). "Matt Damon To Star In Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing'". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (January 7, 2015). "Reese Witherspoon 'Downsizing' With Matt Damon, Alexander Payne". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Sneider, Jeff (January 7, 2015). "Reese Witherspoon Joins Matt Damon in Alexander Payne's 'Downsizing'". TheWrap. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  17. ^ Sneider, Jeff (January 8, 2015). "Alec Baldwin, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Sudeikis Join Matt Damon in 'Downsizing'". The Wrap. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  18. ^ McGovern, Joe (August 25, 2016). "Margo Martindale describes her small (very, very, very small) role in Alexander Payne's next film". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  19. ^ "Matt Damon har landet i Lofoten". Lofotposten. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  20. ^ "'Downsizing', starring Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon, is looking for nude extras in Toronto". OLV. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  21. ^ "Lensing April 1, Payne's 'Downsizing' promises to be his most ambitious film to date". Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories. No. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  22. ^ Mertes, Micah (April 9, 2016). "Alexander Payne, Matt Damon to shoot film in Omaha next week; locations include Prep, midtown". Omaha.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  23. ^ McClintock, Pamela (November 8, 2016). "Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 6' Lands Summer 2018 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  24. ^ "'Downsizing' Teaser Trailer: Matt Damon Shrinks Down For Alexander Payne's Social Satire — Watch". IndieWire. August 30, 2017. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  25. ^ "Downsizing (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  26. ^ "Downsizing reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  27. ^ Brooks, Xan (August 30, 2017). "Downsizing review – Matt Damon thinks small in Alexander Payne's miniature masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved August 30, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Downsizing_(film)&oldid=806751174"