The Martian - directed by Ridley Scott
Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sebastian Stan, Sean Bean, Mackenzie Davis, Aksel Hennie, Donald Glover
Running Time: 141 minutes
Rated: M - A few F words and some self surgery
It has long been my belief that there is no greater endeavour for humanity as a species than to explore and the ultimate expression of this is of course the universe around us.
Movies about this have therefore always held huge appeal to me.
After the success of the kinetically thrilling "Gravity" and the deeply emotional "Interstellar" I was hopeful that more movies of their ilk would follow and here we go.....
No less a talent than Sir Ridley Scott takes a shot and it is a pretty damned fine shot at that.
Based on Andy Weir's digital book of the same name (subsequently released in physical form) "The Martian" seems a little like "Cast Away" meets "Gravity" but I think it also owes quite a bit to Scott's own "Black Hawk Down".
Partly in terms of content but also in the filming.
The two films share editor Pietro Scalia and the Oscar winners talent is on full view here.
Actually - a lot of peoples talent is evident.
Let's hope that many people agree because I want more of this sort of movie.
Not just space exploration films but films whose heroes are smart people.
I'm all for an everyman hero and rooting for the little guy but too often the truly exceptional achievers are forgotten.
"The Martian's" plot couldn't be simpler - an astronaut is left for dead when a storm forces his team to evacuate Mars and head back home to Earth.
He must survive until a rescue can be mounted.
Stranded astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is a botanist and his predicament could hardly be more dire.
He needs to maintain supplies of water, oxygen and food and must figure out a way to let NASA know that he is still alive.
And he is four years from rescue.
It makes Tom Hank's situation look like a walk in the park and there isn't a volleyball in sight.
What Watney does have is mad science skills and the determination to nut this one out.
Novelist Andy Weir, the son a particle physicist and with a background in computer science himself spent two years writing and researching his book.
With a determination to keep everything as scientifically valid as possible he ultimately self published the novel in installments free of charge.
A Kindle edition followed at 99c and 30,000 copies flew off the digital shelves in the first month.
Screenwriter Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay for the movie version and it is hard to think of a finer choice.
With credits including "World War Z", "Cloverfield" and "The Cabin In the Woods" he has great experience writing people in peril tales.
He has also shown a keen sense of when best to use humour.
Humour is one the wonderful surprises in "The Martian".
There are loads of laughs but not at the expense of tension and drama.
Mostly the funny moments help us bond with Watney as we watch his struggle to survive as the sole occupant of a planet best described as 'out to kill him'.
Damon is great as Watney.
He starts looking decidedly Jason Bourne-ish with traps, biceps and deltoids all toned and rippling.
As fate and low food supplies take their toll he becomes gaunt and sickly.
I don't know if he lost a metric butt-tonne of weight or if CGI was utilised but either way the transformation is well achieved.
The rest of the cast are split between Earth and the spacecraft on its way back there.
Scott and Goddard do a terrific job in carving up the screen time between locations.
I can't complain about a single one of the excellent lineup being short changed although I can always handle more Kristen Wiig.
Damon and Chastain both starred in Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" but their roles in "The Martian" could not be more different.
This is a softer yet still commanding Chastain performance,
Jeff Daniels is in "The Newsroom" territory as the director of NASA and the great Chiwetel Ejiofor in fine form as the authoritative but charismatic figure that he always plays so well.
With the rest of the cast including Sebastian Stan (both "Captain America" movies), Aksle Hennie ("Headhunters"), Kate Mara ("Shooter", "House of Cards") and Michael Pena ("End of Watch", "Ant-Man") and of course Wiig (playing it straight) there are plenty of fine performances to savour.
And Sean Bean needs very special mention - he is at his very best in this film.
A scene in which the code name 'Elrond" is used is all the better for his presence.
In fact all round this is a hard movie to fault.
The editing by Scalia, cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and of course direction by Scott is truly excellent.
Finely balancing shots from cameras that exist naturally in Watney's world (on his suit, in the ship, webcams and satellite views) he manages to keep the imagery fresh and the exposition seamless.
There is a lot information being thrown at the audience here and even though most of it is heavily scientific it isn't remotely confusing.
Watney's plight is never overshadowed by other events and even the things transpiring behind the scenes and the political maneuvering at mission control serve only to raise the stakes and remind us that although this is the life of just one man it is still a life we should- and do- care about deeply.
For a two hour plus movie it zips by very, very nicely indeed.
The pace does dip a little in this regard towards the end of the film and a scene in the book where Watney's rover battles a storm and rolls over is absent from the film at a time when I feel it could have strengthened the final half hour but still - this is a tense, exciting ride.
Running Time: 141 minutes
Rated: M - A few F words and some self surgery
It has long been my belief that there is no greater endeavour for humanity as a species than to explore and the ultimate expression of this is of course the universe around us.
Movies about this have therefore always held huge appeal to me.
After the success of the kinetically thrilling "Gravity" and the deeply emotional "Interstellar" I was hopeful that more movies of their ilk would follow and here we go.....
No less a talent than Sir Ridley Scott takes a shot and it is a pretty damned fine shot at that.
Based on Andy Weir's digital book of the same name (subsequently released in physical form) "The Martian" seems a little like "Cast Away" meets "Gravity" but I think it also owes quite a bit to Scott's own "Black Hawk Down".
Partly in terms of content but also in the filming.
The two films share editor Pietro Scalia and the Oscar winners talent is on full view here.
Actually - a lot of peoples talent is evident.
Let's hope that many people agree because I want more of this sort of movie.
Not just space exploration films but films whose heroes are smart people.
I'm all for an everyman hero and rooting for the little guy but too often the truly exceptional achievers are forgotten.
"The Martian's" plot couldn't be simpler - an astronaut is left for dead when a storm forces his team to evacuate Mars and head back home to Earth.
He must survive until a rescue can be mounted.
Stranded astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is a botanist and his predicament could hardly be more dire.
He needs to maintain supplies of water, oxygen and food and must figure out a way to let NASA know that he is still alive.
And he is four years from rescue.
It makes Tom Hank's situation look like a walk in the park and there isn't a volleyball in sight.
What Watney does have is mad science skills and the determination to nut this one out.
Novelist Andy Weir, the son a particle physicist and with a background in computer science himself spent two years writing and researching his book.
With a determination to keep everything as scientifically valid as possible he ultimately self published the novel in installments free of charge.
A Kindle edition followed at 99c and 30,000 copies flew off the digital shelves in the first month.
Screenwriter Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay for the movie version and it is hard to think of a finer choice.
With credits including "World War Z", "Cloverfield" and "The Cabin In the Woods" he has great experience writing people in peril tales.
He has also shown a keen sense of when best to use humour.
 |
| Matt Damon as Mark Watney |
There are loads of laughs but not at the expense of tension and drama.
Mostly the funny moments help us bond with Watney as we watch his struggle to survive as the sole occupant of a planet best described as 'out to kill him'.
Damon is great as Watney.
He starts looking decidedly Jason Bourne-ish with traps, biceps and deltoids all toned and rippling.
As fate and low food supplies take their toll he becomes gaunt and sickly.
I don't know if he lost a metric butt-tonne of weight or if CGI was utilised but either way the transformation is well achieved.
The rest of the cast are split between Earth and the spacecraft on its way back there.
Scott and Goddard do a terrific job in carving up the screen time between locations.
I can't complain about a single one of the excellent lineup being short changed although I can always handle more Kristen Wiig.
Damon and Chastain both starred in Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" but their roles in "The Martian" could not be more different.
This is a softer yet still commanding Chastain performance,
Jeff Daniels is in "The Newsroom" territory as the director of NASA and the great Chiwetel Ejiofor in fine form as the authoritative but charismatic figure that he always plays so well.
With the rest of the cast including Sebastian Stan (both "Captain America" movies), Aksle Hennie ("Headhunters"), Kate Mara ("Shooter", "House of Cards") and Michael Pena ("End of Watch", "Ant-Man") and of course Wiig (playing it straight) there are plenty of fine performances to savour.
And Sean Bean needs very special mention - he is at his very best in this film.
A scene in which the code name 'Elrond" is used is all the better for his presence.
 |
| Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Jessica Chastain, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, Aksle Hennie and Chiwetel Ejiofor |
The editing by Scalia, cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and of course direction by Scott is truly excellent.
Finely balancing shots from cameras that exist naturally in Watney's world (on his suit, in the ship, webcams and satellite views) he manages to keep the imagery fresh and the exposition seamless.
There is a lot information being thrown at the audience here and even though most of it is heavily scientific it isn't remotely confusing.
Watney's plight is never overshadowed by other events and even the things transpiring behind the scenes and the political maneuvering at mission control serve only to raise the stakes and remind us that although this is the life of just one man it is still a life we should- and do- care about deeply.
For a two hour plus movie it zips by very, very nicely indeed.
The pace does dip a little in this regard towards the end of the film and a scene in the book where Watney's rover battles a storm and rolls over is absent from the film at a time when I feel it could have strengthened the final half hour but still - this is a tense, exciting ride.
And I couldn't have loved the soundtrack more. There is a reason for the songs used and they are used so well that they brought a constant smile to my face. Harry Gregson-Williams score is also bang on.
I desperately want this film to do well.
Yes, because it deserves to on its merits but also because I want more films celebrating intelligence and achievement.
Films like this one and "Inception" and "Contact" and "Interstellar".
I hope that "The Martian" inspires people into learning about the universe and clearly NASA's heavy involvement in the production and in the promotion around this film indicate that they do too.
With wonderful visuals and beautifully effective 3D this is a real big screen movie experience.
With the promise of "Spectre" and "Star Wars: Episode VII" still on the horizon "The Martian" adds to what is already a very, very strong year for movies that looks likely to only get even better.
For now though "The Martian" is a must see.
A HUGE must see.
RATING: 90/ 100
CONCLUSION: Marvelously well made "The Martian" is riveting, exciting and smart. The cast could hardly be better and Scott is at the peak of his directing powers. Bloody Great and enormously satisfying.
 |
| The Martian has some of the best real world space effects yet seen |
Yes, because it deserves to on its merits but also because I want more films celebrating intelligence and achievement.
Films like this one and "Inception" and "Contact" and "Interstellar".
I hope that "The Martian" inspires people into learning about the universe and clearly NASA's heavy involvement in the production and in the promotion around this film indicate that they do too.
With wonderful visuals and beautifully effective 3D this is a real big screen movie experience.
With the promise of "Spectre" and "Star Wars: Episode VII" still on the horizon "The Martian" adds to what is already a very, very strong year for movies that looks likely to only get even better.
For now though "The Martian" is a must see.
A HUGE must see.
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