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Downsizing director Alexander Payne addresses criticism of his new film

Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne discusses his ambitious new film, and some of the criticism it’s encountered.
Writer, director and producer Alexander Payne attends The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Official Academy Screening of Downsizing at the MOMA Celeste Bartos Theater on December 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki/Getty Images for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)

Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne is known for dark comedies like Nebraska and Sideways, but he steps into a whole new realm with his latest film, Downsizing. Starring Matt Damon, this special effects-heavy film is about shrinking human beings down to a few inches tall — but it also explores themes around personal responsibility, the environment, and the meaning of life. Payne stopped by the q studio to have a spirited conversation with Tom Power about his ambitious new film, and the criticism surrounding the accent used by one of the characters in the film.

Produced by Chris Trowbridge