4.5/5 The Martian A movie that requires a bit of proactive thinking and respect for scientific knowledge? Oh, no! Fox won’t like this. At long last, after an eight year period of films that range from bearable (Prometheus) to middling (Exodus: Gods and Men) to terrible (The Counselor), Ridley Scott has made his return to truly spectacular filmmaking. Seeing as how this is the mastermind behind classics like Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down, I would say that this is cause for some serious celebration. And if you are thinking that you have already seen Matt Damon lost in space in last year’s Interstellar, think again. The films share only a setting. By adapting Andy Weir’s novel about astronaut Mark Watney and his Martian isolation, Ridley Scott and his entire cast have made a lasting film that is sure to boost the career of everyone involved. One of the truly remarkable things about The Martian is how technically precise it is. Sure, it is not anywhere near as detailed as Weir’s writing, but Scott and screenwriter Drew Goddard (World War Z, The Cabin in the Woods) could have easily taken the source material and dolled it up to Hollywood’s standards of normalcy - kind of like Scott did with Exodus. You would think that sitting and listening to a bunch of movie stars recite scientific lingo would be a total drag, but you would again be mistaken. I am convinced that Matt Damon can make me believe he is literally anything. Whether he is a widower buying zoos, a super-spy with no identity, or a botanist lost on Mars, I have never doubted his authenticity. He has an uncanny ability to inject whatever role he is playing with truth, emotion, charisma, and relatable humor. | Director: Ridley Scott Starring: Matt Damon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Mackenzie Davis Writer: Drew Goddard |
Damon’s Watney is no different. Put through unimaginable terror and loneliness, he barely loses his spirits. His outlook may become a bit more doubtful, but his humor never wavers and he never stops pushing forward. Much has been said of how The Martian champions human ingenuity, and they are all right. In a world so eaten up by cynicism and hopelessness, we could all use a story like this. In fact, I do not see the films predictable/kind-of-corny ending as a bad thing, necessarily. The Martian reminds me of a time when Hollywood made hopeful movies with ambitious filmmakers who actually cared about making their tales feel genuine.
If Scott’s film feels a tad overstuffed with stars, it should be said that every performer is committed to making Martian the best film it can be. From Jessica Chastain’s conflicted, honorable commander to Sean Bean’s brave NASA employee, every small supporting character feels necessary - even Donald Glover’s brief (but essential) cameo. There is almost too many to name, but here’s a brief list of the highlights: Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara (looking glad to be out of that Fantastic Four costume), Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Mackenzie Davis. If anyone feels out of place and (slightly) inessential, it is Kristen Wiig’s NASA PR woman; but, like I said, she makes you believe she needs to be there.
There’s really so much I could say about the film. The special effects are stupefying, maybe even edging out Interstellar because of its gritty realism. You will never have as much fun watching Matt Damon plant Martian potatoes or clean solar panels. It only makes the truly spectacular set pieces, such as the third-act rescue mission, that much more rewarding. Don’t see The Martian because I’m telling you to. See it because you still have some hope in human innovation and movies with well-intentioned stories to tell. Bravo to Ridley Scott for his magisterial comeback. If Prometheus 2 is anywhere near this good, we are going to be just fine.
If Scott’s film feels a tad overstuffed with stars, it should be said that every performer is committed to making Martian the best film it can be. From Jessica Chastain’s conflicted, honorable commander to Sean Bean’s brave NASA employee, every small supporting character feels necessary - even Donald Glover’s brief (but essential) cameo. There is almost too many to name, but here’s a brief list of the highlights: Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara (looking glad to be out of that Fantastic Four costume), Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Mackenzie Davis. If anyone feels out of place and (slightly) inessential, it is Kristen Wiig’s NASA PR woman; but, like I said, she makes you believe she needs to be there.
There’s really so much I could say about the film. The special effects are stupefying, maybe even edging out Interstellar because of its gritty realism. You will never have as much fun watching Matt Damon plant Martian potatoes or clean solar panels. It only makes the truly spectacular set pieces, such as the third-act rescue mission, that much more rewarding. Don’t see The Martian because I’m telling you to. See it because you still have some hope in human innovation and movies with well-intentioned stories to tell. Bravo to Ridley Scott for his magisterial comeback. If Prometheus 2 is anywhere near this good, we are going to be just fine.