The Martian

Starring: Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Donald Glover
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Drama, Science Fiction
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: After an accident, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left alone on Mars. He must use his knowledge to try to survive hundreds of days before a rescue mission can reach the Red Planet.

Review:

Tim: I went into The Martian with a mix of excitement and trepidation. I was ecstatic about seeing the movie because it looked so, so good. I was also a little easy, because I'd read Andy Weir's incredible book. I struggle with seeing movies based on books that I've read. I try my hardest to separate the book from the movie, but it is sometimes very difficult to do (see The Road). I didn't know how I would react to this film. Luckily for me, Ridley Scott directs an incredible movie. While it obviously can't cover everything from the book, this movie does the story justice. This is a great film.

There's a lot to love in Weir's novel and much of that is translated into the film. The book is heavy on the science aspect of an astronaut surviving on Mars. The film only scratches the surface of that, but it makes a point to ensure it is included and an integral part of Watney's journey. This isn't the story of a cowboy surviving by his guts. It's the story of a brilliant scientist leveraging his knowledge to fight overwhelming odds. I love that our hero is a scientist, a nerd. Only someone who is incredibly intelligent could have any hope of surviving this ordeal. The second thing I loved about the book is Watney's humor. He's not afraid to drop the "F" bomb and his gallows humor made a scary situation funny. I loved the use of humor in the book and that translates well on screen. Writer Drew Goddard did a fantastic job of leveraging the PG-13 rating for all it's worth. We do get a couple of F-words, but many more are implied. I appreciated that, as it paid tribute to the book. All in all, this is a fantastic adaptation of the novel. But, let's move away from the book- a movie has to be judged on its own right.

Scott directs a film that is a wonderful balance of character development, humor, intense sequences, surprising twists, and inspirational moments. This is a film about human survival, even in the phase of daunting odds. It's a unique story about a guy trying to survive alone on a planet. While this is science fiction, like Weir's book, it is all rooted in fact. That gives the movie a "this could happen" sense. The special effects are very, very strong- the movie transports you to the surface of Mars. All in all, this is a technically incredible movie that also tells a moving, entertaining story.

Matt Damon was the perfect choice for Watney. He plays him exceptionally well- he gets the character and embodies the everyman persona of the character. He's likeable, just like the Watney in the book. Plus, as an added bonus, you have the memes about how the United States has spent a massive amount of money to rescue Matt Damon (with this, Interstellar, and Saving Private Ryan).

Outside of Damon, the film boasts one of the strongest supporting casts in recent memory. I loved Jeff Daniels as the head of NASA. He plays the part well- he's not there to make friends, but he is a good guy at heart. He hits all the right notes. Jessica Chastain was believable as the commander of Watney's crew. Kristen Wiig was a bit of a surprise casting, but she did well in this restrained role. I always, always love seeing Michael Pena and Sean Bean, and both men add great supporting performances. Pena's communication to Damon when he is laughing was one of the highlights of the film. Chiwetel Ejiofor is always underrated and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. The movie was made better because of him. Benedict Wong was good in a smaller role. I really like Donald Glover, but I didn't quite buy his performance. I wanted to love him, but he was only fine. Kata Mara was okay, but didn't add much. The same could be said for Sebastian Stan- nothing wrong with his performance, but he doesn't get to add much tot he film. Still, all in all, the cast of this film is incredible.

The Martian was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. I'm bummed that it came away with zero awards. This film is entertaining, funny, and memorable. It's a rewatchable film and undoubtedly one of the best movies of 2015. I wish it had won at least one Oscar, but that takes nothing away from this great, great film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Red Planet, Interstellar