MovieChat Forums > Downsizing (2017) Discussion > no clear direction in this film

no clear direction in this film

posted 7 years ago by maximmm (3344)
7 replies | jump to latest

I should first point out that not having a clear direction is not necessarily a bad thing.
I do feel like this film tried to tackle too many themes and premises without a goal line in sight.

Here is the thing, if there was no scifi downsizing bit in this film, I'd say this was a pretty decent drama film. If this film focused on the scifi downsizing bit, I'd say this could be a pretty neat scifi film (this bit was largely unexplored, so you'd need a lot more quality content for this to be the case).

There were a few comedy bits - but then there was also a fair amount of drama (I must admit, Damon's acting in the dramatic scenes felt pretty darn wooden).

At the end of the day, after having seen this film, I'm really not sure what to make of it. I can't say it was a good film - but I also can't say it was a bad film - and I'm not entirely sure what this film wanted to be. It tried to tackle too many themes - too many film genres - and it came out as being none.

Spoilers below:

My train of thought as I was watching this film.
Downsizing bit comes up - I'm thinking, cool, this could be a great scifi comedy (the music implied this was a comedy).

Damon character gets divorced - I'm thinking, OK - this could be some sort of drama/comedy in a sci fi setting.

Damon goes through a tunnel and sees the slums - I'm thinking...errr... OK, screw everything I've said before, I guess this film now wants to serve as a statement about social injustice, and become a detective thriller where the corruption of this paradise world gets exposed.

Damon character meets up with 'end of the world' cult people - I'm thinking: OK - I have no idea what this film wants to be anymore.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Exactly. Have not even bothered to see it, but that it what I was feeling from all known about it. Best films have direction, others just kind of do somethings and go some places.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1726) 7 years ago

Like you said, it's a directionless film. Has a promising start but then it just has no idea what it wants to do with it.

I'm trying to go for an entertaining, informative youtube channel so, if you have the time, take a look. Hope you enjoy what you see and if you have any thoughts or criticisms, i'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance. Review right here- https://youtu.be/tn12vJcJawY

[–] TandyMan (11119) 7 years ago

I think I liked that about it. But only cause one of the final messages of the film was: Was this all God's plan to lead me to this moment and time? Or was it just a bunch of random crap?

[–] Renovatio (2990) 7 years ago

Yeah... i think the major theme of the film isn't environmental issues, our consumerist global culture or the wonders of technology, etc... That is just setting and context...

Instead the key theme seems to be that it is up to us to create meaning in our lives... Safranek finally realises that instead of spending his life trying to fulfil society's expectation of the good life, or his destiny as [spoiler]a survivor in the nordic commune[/spoiler], he realises that he can find meaning in connecting with other people and doing good for them... it is an edifying journey for him, as he had oived his life just going through the motiones before and after downsizing, after his existential crisis he is living more mindfully and is enjoying life...

It reminded me of The Stranger by Camus... A similar theme that it is by facing the idea of your own mortality that you can appreciate the worth of life and find meaning in being alive...

[–] maximmm (3344) 7 years ago

There are a lot of things that one could take away from this film. There are a lot of themes discussed - but none that seem to drive this film forth in a clear way. There were too many pushes in different directions during different parts of the film - making it seem as if the film was directionless.

[–] Xcalat3 (3749) 7 years ago

/Damon character gets divorced - I'm thinking, OK - this could be some sort of drama/comedy in a sci fi setting.

Damon goes through a tunnel and sees the slums - I'm thinking...errr... OK, screw everything I've said before, I guess this film now wants to serve as a statement about social injustice, and become a detective thriller where the corruption of this paradise world gets exposed.

Damon character meets up with 'end of the world' cult people - I'm thinking: OK - I have no idea what this film wants to be anymore./

this exactly, it wanted to be too many things at once and ended up being none of them.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

[deleted]