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Downsizing (2017)
It's Got the Future For It
Perhaps not ahead of its time, but still a sarcastic comedy with well crafted directing and suiting performances from the actors. In that sense, it's a grower!
Okay, let's face the facts. Why has this movies a score of a mere 5,7?
It has all got to do with director Alexander Payne's method and technique. Through his earlier works Payne has proved himself to be one of the most prolific directors when it comes to the conservation and intermediation of humanism and empathy.
The ability to assemble the gears in order to get closer to the characters. Small details and major emotional actions. A skill he shares with legendary filmmakers such as Ettore Scola, Susanne Bier, Richard Linklater and Ken Loach. To name a few.
As a personal evolutionary step, for this title Payne considered not only to further explore sarcasm and comedy. He chose to involve a significant new element to his repertoire - fantasy.
That's where it got tricky. Although the movie starts off as a jocosity, a sarcasm, he takes a sharp turn. More and more, the characters fill the limelight.
This is sadly where the trailer ends (sort of). For Alexander Payne fans, this is actually where the movie really starts.
Halfway through it all takes a slower tempo. From the fantasy/science fiction pace, it becomes more of a character study. All in the hands of Alexander Payne.
As I said. It's a grower! Watch it again. I promise it will pay off.
Marriage Story (2019)
Classic drama, taken to a new level
Let's face it. Baumbach is clearly a fan of Woody Allen, later Ingmar Bergman and Sydney Pollack. He's classically schooled.
This is no news, though. We could see it sip through in his earlier works; the humanism, the humour and the great eye for details. Both in the form of cunningly interspersed metaphors and everyday things. While the dialogue is excellent, the visual language communicated is just as subtle and balanced.
We follow a couple and their son. Her an actress, him a theatrical director, during the excruciating escalations of their divorce. Seemingly without them anticipating any of it. A plot like this could easily be bland and repetitive without the writing and directing from someone like Baumbach.
When it comes to acting, this kind of movie needs experienced and highly talented participants. Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and the whole cast deliver just that. And more!
This is one of those movies where both cast and crew exceed themselves and thakes their art and career to a whole new level.
All this to the beatiful and fitting musical score by Randy Newman.
Without doubt the movie of the year!