The Martian

            Back in 2012, I had put the film “Prometheus” on my list of the worst film of 2012. And if you remember, I didn’t necessarily review the film and went on more of an immature rant instead. But my opinion of the film hasn’t changed. The acting was still average or less, it wasn’t really anything different from what we had seen before, and the writing was full of plot holes the size of moon craters.

            I tried asking myself why I wasn’t enjoying the film at all, and that’s when I realized something…I don’t really like Ridley Scott movies. Yeah, sorry to break it to you, but I don’t think Ridley Scott’s a good director, and is one of the most overrated directors working today. And it’s not just “Prometheus,” that I hate. I also hate “Gladiator,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Blade Runner,” “Hannibal,” “Kingdom of Heaven,” and a lot of his other work. Now, that’s not to say I hate EVERY film he’s done; I do like “Alien,” “American Gangster,” and “Thelma and Louise,” but that’s about it. Personally, I was more of a fan of his brother, Tony (May he rest in peace).

            So as you could imagine, I wasn’t as excited as everyone else was about his newest film, “The Martian,” even with how strong a cast it had. Also, I hadn’t read the book, and only know that it’s a critically acclaimed work of literature. But despite my disinterest in Ridley Scott, I decided to give him another chance and see if he could actually make worth my time.

            “The Martian” tells of Mark Watney, an astronaut who is marooned at the NASA Mars camp, after the crew evacuates during a storm. Presumed dead, Mark now has to figure out a way to get in contact with NASA so they can send help, all the while trying to survive on Mars atmosphere with what limited supplies he has. Or in his words, “science the shit out of this.”

            Now, did I like the movie? To be perfectly honest…I did. I actually found the film very investing, enthusiastic, and enjoyable on just about every level. Most of that stems from Matt Damon as Mark Watney. Since almost all his scenes comprise of him with nobody else to work off of, it really gives him the toughest job that Tom Hanks had when working on “Cast Away,” and that’s carry a film on his own, which Damon does. Mark Watney is a very likable character, with a witty sense of humor, welcoming charm, and always feels confident. Even so, he does have vulnerability, but he’s determined to survive with all the smarts he has and with whatever resources he’s got. This is one of Damon’s finest performances, and if he gets an Oscar nod, it’s well deserving.

            The supporting cast is top notch too, such as Jeff Daniels as the director of NASA, Ted Sanders. Throughout the film, we see the complicated dilemma that goes through Sanders head of what would be the best solution to getting Watney back, but one that would be fast and safe, and I really enjoy how Daniels brings that essence to the character. Same goes for Chiwatel Ejiofor, who plays Vincent Kapoor, who gets in contact with Watney. The best scenes that Ejiofor are involved in are the ones where he feels conflicted about what to tell Mark during their conversations. It really does set the tone down and really allow both the characters an audience sync in with the mood. If best supporting is offered, I’d say Ejiofor is the man right for the nomination. And of course we have Jessica Chastain, who plays the commander of the team, Melissa Lewis. She’s determined, she’s confident, she tries to look for the right answers in any situation, and it feels like a character that fits Chastain nicely. It was said that while studying for the role, Chastain had met up with the astronauts and scientist of the Jet Propulsion Lab and the L.B.J. Space Center to get well informed, and said her performance was inspired by that of the astronaut, Tracy Dyson. A prime example of a fine actor doing her research for the role. Other cast members such as Kristen Wiig, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Donald Glover, Mackenzie Davis, and others, are all great in what they give us.

            The script was written by Drew Goddard, best known for his work on a lot of Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams shows, as well as “The Cabin in the Woods.” I feel like Goddard really does know how to handle his work and make it enjoyable for audiences as long as it’s put in the proper hands. Luckily, Ridley Scott knew what to do with it. Instead of it feeling out of place with its logic and feeling extremely preachy, he lets the film be more relax and down to Earth, and only uses the intense feelings for when it’s necessary to the story, much like what he did with “Thelma and Louise” and “American Gangster.”

            Overall, I’d say “The Martian” is a film worth your time, and that’s saying a lot for somebody who isn’t a Ridley Scott fan. The acting is great, the directing is excellent, and the writing is really damn good. I guarantee this will be among the Oscar talks for this season, and if does, that’s fine by me.

Rating: 10/10