Trailers

Alexander Payne’s Downsizing is a sci-fi parable for modern times

Words by Ed Gibbs

Watch the first trailer for the American writer/director’s upcoming comedy.

Alexander Payne has a lot on his mind. In his new film, Downsizing, he presents an intriguing solution to climate change and the world’s population crisis, imagining an alternate reality where people have the opportunity to literally shrink themselves thus increasing the value of their assets and dramatically reducing their carbon footprint.

On paper it sounds like the kind of socially-conscious sci-fi parable Spike Jonze might cook up – something new, then, from the acclaimed writer/director of bittersweet, homespun comedies like Nebraska and The Descendants. Thematically speaking, Downsizing looks to be Payne’s most ambitious work to date, while a principal cast of Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig and Christoph Waltz suggests that the film will be aiming for some familiar comic notes.

In our first-look review from this year’s Venice Film Festival, we called the film “an escapist fantasy far from the grim absurdities of Trump-era America.” The film doesn’t yet have a release date, but we’re expecting it to land sometime in early 2018. Take a look at the first official trailer and share your thoughts with us @LWLies

Two illustrated book covers depicting a smiling Black man wearing a hat and tie, with a city skyline in the background

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