WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Utter isolation. It’s a feeling most would prefer never to have to experience, involuntarily at any rate. Of course, this concept is perhaps hard enough to deal with when on our native planet Earth. However, what if it was not only involuntary, but in a place roughly 33 millions miles away from said Blue Planet and home? For astronaut and botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon), it was like any other day on the Mars Ares III mission with fellow crewmates Capt. Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Rick Martinez (Michael Pena), Beth Johanssen (Kate Mara), Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan), and Alex Vogel (Aksel Hennie). Out collecting samples, the sudden emergence of a massive Mars storm threatens their ship, and the decision is made to leave.
But a freak occurrence while trying to evacuate to the ship leaves Mark behind, presumed dead. Waking and realizing he is now stranded on the Red Planet, with rescue possibilities no closer than 3 years away via the next planned Ares arrival, Watney begins an incredible journey of fortitude, ingenuity, and drawing on all his knowledge to determine how he can survive the length of time required and also make it to the new landing site. Meanwhile, upon learning of his survival, NASA head Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) and a mission director Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) amass the wealth of human resources at their disposal to find a way to bring Watney home. Victories, complications, impossibilities, hope, and doubt all come into play as the world watches.
Next, my Mind:
Director Ridley Scott is a personal favorite, as his style and producing quality have been more consistent than not over the span of the 36 years in major film efforts he’s got to his credit, and “The Martian” has more than successfully joined this reviewer’s list of fantastic final results he has brought to the big screen. The sheer vastness and beautiful yet ominous barrenness of the Red Planet is brought to lush, rugged, cinematic life thanks to Scott’s sure hand, and the scope of it all is only made that much more apparent in watching its lone resident make his way about. The overwhelming magnitude of the harsh Martian environment is presented in all its terrible glory, making Watney’s chances seem that much slimmer.
This cast is, frankly, a dream. The level of talent represented is amazing, with every one of them pitching in solidly and in relevant ways through their respective characters. Daniels’ straight-laced, by the book NASA director mixing with Ejiofor’s outside-the-box thinking, leave no man behind mission director is a true treat to watch, not to leave out other superb character actors like Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, and everyone making up the Ares III crew. But, of course, the real gem here is Damon, who infuses Watney with every possible emotional state of being imaginable as he tries to navigate what most people would simply not even try to figure out–surviving on a distant planet with limited resources on top of trying to determine how to even contact home.
“The Martian” is one of those excellent examples of major motion picture success in that it provides complete and total entertainment while not losing sight of the fact that, at its heart, it is simply demonstrating both the vulnerability and amazingness that is a human being excelling in extraordinary circumstance.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
