VENICE, Italy — “Downsizing” has generated jumbo-sized buzz at the Venice Film Festival — not least as viewers debate how to describe it.
Is it a science fiction film, a romantic comedy, a political parable, an apocalyptic thriller? Alexander Payne’s movie mixes all those elements in its story of a man, played by Matt Damon, who tries to solve his problems by shrinking himself.
Damon and co-stars Kristen Wiig and Hong Chau joined Payne on the red carpet for the film’s Venice premiere Wednesday — the first of 11 days of galas that will bring stars including George Clooney and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.
The Venice opening-night slot has become coveted by filmmakers hoping to make a splash come awards season. Several recent Venice openers, including “Gravity” and “La La Land,” have gone on to win multiple Academy Awards.
“Downsizing” has ingredients that could help it strike a similar chord with audiences and awards voters: a likable, bankable star in Damon; a strong supporting cast that includes Wiig and Christophe Waltz; and an imaginative story laced with compassion and humor.
Payne says despite its sci-fi premise and international canvas, “Downsizing” is not so different to the films he’s best known for — funny-sad stories of middle aged or Midwestern strugglers such as “About Schmidt,” ‘’Sideways” and “Nebraska.”
“It has the same sense of humor and basically the same tone,” Payne told reporters in Venice on Wednesday.
The movie applies Payne’s wry eye for human foibles to a plot that explores the power and limits of science and the threat of environmental catastrophe.
The script by Payne and…
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