Del Toro’s version is finally here, in time for a Halloween release, and it’s impossible to shake the feeling when watching it that it’s exactly the way you’d expect a Del Toro Frankenstein to look and feel like. Some viewers may yawn and find that boring, but this is a rare case where I’m on board with a filmmaker working in a well-worn groove, pouring his distinctive style into a particular adaptation.
Read MoreIn a world where mortal injuries can often be fixed as easily as sticking a severed head onto a robotic body, the movie contemplates what it means to be human, especially in a society filled with people who might pull off your arm (or even your head) and exchange it for profit.
Read MoreBy contrast, in his new film Downsizing, Payne expands his perspective to the entire planet, and in so doing loses some of the authenticity that he’s been known for. Downsizing doesn’t seem to trust the audience to pick up on its save-the-world thesis, and ends up feeling more like an over-eager university student giving a speech than a satisfying moviegoing experience. It’s not a bore, but it wastes too much energy wagging its finger while the story is lagging behind.
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