"Downsizing" (2017), Alexander Payne. Capsule review.

Disjointed and meandering, the last movie by Payne is preachy and ineffectual in equal measure. It does not work as science fiction, comedy, or social commentary. An initial burst of energy is derailed by a nihilist ecologist discourse that belongs in Greenpeace pamphlets. The high concept had an interesting potential shown in the socioeconomic variables in play, quickly hidden to bring up survivalist American progressive lunacy, even when is spew in foreign accents. Not recommended. And shame on Payne for ruining the concept in the first place.

www.imdb.com/title/tt1389072/

"Bad Genius" (2017). Capsule review.

The best heist movie that you will see this year was not directed by Soderbergh and has nothing to do with car races, jewels or banks. Thai director Nattawut Poonpiriya has created a spellbinding tale of deception, high stakes, and social class commentary in a movie about high school students and tests for acceptance into universities. A good fictional companion to the superb Korean documentary "Reach for the SKY" (2015). If only we did not know that meritocracy is a lie.
"Bad Genius", watch it however you can.

www.imdb.com/title/tt6788942/