The Martian

The Martian

Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig

Directed by Ridley Scott

The Story:
In 2035, a manned team has landed on Mars to conduct experiments for 31 Martian days (sols), led by Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain).  On the eighteenth day, they encounter a massive Martian storm and decide to leave.  During the escape, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is injured and presumed dead.  With the rest of her crew's lives at risk, Lewis decides to leave.

Mark wakes up later - injured, but alive.  He tries to contact NASA to no avail, and sets out to find a way to survive.  He finally contacts NASA, and learns that they're planning to come rescue him - but it won't be for four years, and he has enough food to only last almost a year.  Having a Master's degree in botany, Mark sets out to make food grow on a planet where it cannot, as well as try to maintain his own sanity and morale as he waits for rescue on a far away planet where he's the only person living.

The Synopsis:
When you think of great space/sci-fi movies, titles like "Alien," "Prometheus" and "Blade Runner" come to mind.  Ridley Scott directed these epics as well as other great Americana films ("Thelma & Louise," "American Gangster," "Black Hawk Down").  "The Martian" will be added to Scott's list of exquisite, pitch-perfect films, as it delivers on all cylinders and keeps you riveted to the screen, even though you know the eventual outcome, it's still an awesome thrill ride.

Based off a great book by Andy Weir, "The Martian" is essentially "Cast Away" in space.  Instead of Tom Hanks and Wilson, we have Matt Damon and...potatoes.  Personally, I feel bad for Matt Damon.  In his filming career, he's had to be saved ("Saving Private Ryan") and be attached to Greg Kinnear ("Stuck On You").  Now, he's stranded alone on Mars, having to face the merciless weather, devastating loneliness, and bleak outlook.  However, he does all this with a smile on his face, a sharp sarcastic wit, and an undying sense of hopefulness that comes from a deep sense of self-esteem.  While the odds aren't in his favor, and they might've cracked a smaller man, Damon's Mark Watney sees each trial as a test, and he wants to graduate head of the class.

While the film is over two hours long, you don't notice the length as you're drawn to the screen from beginning to end.  While most films that feature one lone person trying to survive seem tedious and boring, "The Martian" is able to keep you entertained throughout, thanks to the brilliant (and hopefully Oscar nominated) acting chops of Matt Damon, as well as the pinprick perfection of Ridley Scott's direction.  He's done this before, and he hasn't lost his touch. 

What Scott also does very well is attaining a cast of top-notch actors who perform brilliantly in their supporting roles.  Jessica Chastain is the fearless and intelligent leader of the mission.  Jeff Daniels is the gruff NASA director.  Chiwetel Ejiofor is the optimistic Mars mission director.  Throw in Kristen Wiig (in a surprisingly dramatic - yet also somewhat comedic - role), Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, Sean Bean and Donald Glover, and you've got a cast any director would die for, and all bring their A-game to the party.

There's a lot of things that make this film great.  The acting, the effects (Mars looks absolutely breathtaking, yet also unrelenting), the story, and especially the chemistry.  The cast seemed to really enjoy working on the project, and it makes the viewer really enjoy seeing the final product.  Some films have the issue where the cast doesn't get along, and it shows on the big screen, which leaves the viewer disinterested.  That doesn't happen here, as you're absolutely entertained throughout the film - even at moments where you wouldn't think you would be.  That's the mark of a great movie.

The Summary:
"The Martian" packs an emotional punch as it draws the viewers in with its subtle sense of comedy as it tells a gripping narrative of one man's struggle to survive insurmountable odds.

The Score: A+