So I just got back from seeing Downsizing. I know a lot of critics were mixed about it (though it seems a lot of the top critics loved it) and it only has like a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. But I really liked it and I think a lot of the mixed-to-negative reactions were more due to it being ambitious and tackling on a lot of themes rather than sticking with one or even two. However, I really enjoyed that aspect of this film because I felt like it really touched upon a lot of things that resonated with me which I will explain a bit further. Because it tackled on a lot of things, I'm still stewing over it. My review below is LONG and full of spoilers so read at your own risk.
I saw it tonight, and agree with much of what you said in your post (didn't copy the whole post).
Visually, it was quite spectacular. Thematically it was overloaded, as you said - so much to unpack - but I think Payne pulled it off.
I hated the first hour and a bit of the film actually (checked the time on my phone several times), but it grew on me quickly once Hong Chau and the guy who lives up stairs were introduced.
I thought it was a tour de force in terms of imagination.
And it had some genuinely funny moments. I rarely laugh that loud at the movies.
I'll add that I found the first hour especially disturbing, especially the sterility and sameness of Leisureland (i.e. all the white Smart cars).
Now onto the highlight of the film. I hope Hong Chau receives an Oscar nomination for this. She breathed real life into this movie when the movie and Matt Damon was begging for it (intentionally I believe from the filmmaker's part).
I think they should give her five years worth of Oscars! Her performance was both brilliant and genuine, which is all the more remarkable given that she was working with stereotypes and cliches.
At first I was worried about Ngoc Lan having a thick accent with broken English.
However, I watched an interview with Hong Chau who says that with all these positive progressive movement to get more Asian representation, she hopes that we don't erase the existence of people like our parents or recent immigrants and that our need to speak in an "acceptable" way comes from our embarrassment.
There are times at first where it does seem the accent is played for laughs, but it doesn't do so maliciously. It's more of a shock to the senses because we go through the whole movie with nobody speaking in broken English because there are hardly any immigrants to be seen until Ngoc Lan exposes them to Matt Damon. Ngoc Lan certainly is a comedic character, but we feel so much affection and realness from her that the comedy isn't derived from her accent or broken English but just her direct, and at times rude, personality. If those who watch the movie still laugh at her accent by the end of the movie, then there is nothing that can be done for those type of people. She was the highlight of the movie for me.
I didn't see her as comedic, although she had comedic moments. Rather, I saw her as gutsy and delightful.
I didn't see the accent as comedic, either, but maybe because I live in an Asian neighborhood and have Asian clients, so am very used to Korean and Chinese accents - and I like both of them.
Also, she pulled the accent off wonderfully in terms of how someone who grew up in a non-English speaking household and English speaking country would speak a second language.
The ending theme of the environment being destroyed by humans and humans finding a solution way too late for anything to be done to stop the extinction was a very heavy theme that I think many critics had issues with. It seemed to be another left turn after Ngoc Lan had already made the movie move in a wholly different direction than what most expected. I didn't find those turns to be bad in this movie. I actually think it made the film more poignant and thoughtful. I don't mind when a movie explores so many themes and doesn't really complete the threads. I think if filmmakers do it in a thoughtful way where they challenge the audience to really fill in the blanks and to interpret the themes and to think about what may lie ahead, then I think a film is successful. If a film fails to do that and only introduces half-baked ideas in a lazy, unthoughtful way, then I'd agree. I don't think this film did that. I think it was intended to be a parable and it certainly was that.
Agreed.
It also led to the film's real message. I think Matt Damon's Paul realizing that he needed to stop finding this big, almost theoretical big mission in life because what really matters is the direct help you can give people as you are is message we all need to hear. Through that, we can make the most change.
That was so beautiful, and ultimately represented a ray of hope in a perspective of humanity that was cynical and bleak. IMO.
To avoid spoiling anyone, I'll just say that I loved loved loved the ending and the last thing he says to her.
A must-see, for sure!
Film Stars... main pull for is that it looks like Jamie Bell gives an amazing performance. Lastly...has there been any award talk for Diane Kruger for her role in In The Fade? She looks scary brilliant in the trailer. 
) I really enjoyed the film despite such things -- and Oldman was amazing.
