Premiering at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, Ridley Scotts’s “The Martian” tells the incredible story of one man’s survival after being left on Mars. Spanning over 141 minutes, “The Martian” brings Andy Weir’s 2011 novel to the Big Screen in a well-paced, well-written affair that features a star-studded cast with Matt Damon at its helm.
Presumed dead by his team after a vicious storm during a manned mission to Mars, Mark Watney (Damon) finds himself stranded on the Red Planet, 385 million kilometres from home. Relying on his resourcefulness, Mark must find a way to keep himself alive and find a way to signal to Earth that he didn’t die while NASA and his crew try to reach him.
Matt Damon gives a great performance in the lead role here. He does a terrific job keeping viewers interested throughout the film, especially considering he’s the only person in most scenes. The supporting cast, including Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Sebastian Stan, all give solid performances. Not only does Damon do a splendid job keeping viewers entertained, but Drew Goddard’s screenplay makes sure viewers don’t get bored when Watney starts mentioning things like hexadecimals and other scientific details.
For the most part, the science behind “The Martian” is surprisingly accurate but does have some issues. Some are cosmetic; but the most important one, the storm that causes the film’s events to take place, is something that can’t physically happen. However the camerawork makes up for it. Scott’s use of wide and overhead shots does a great job emphasising Mark’s isolation and loneliness. The visual effects on display throughout the film are impressive. The VFX department does an incredible job making sure the CGI looks realistic and doesn’t blatantly stand out to viewers.
Despite being a sci-fi film, “The Martian” incorporates themes that link to ideas of human nature and humanity’s future. Man’s natural desire to persevere and survive plays a key role in the film. If Mark didn’t have this overwhelming hunger to survive he probably wouldn’t have made it home; this directly links to themes of hope and possibility. One of the first times Mark addresses the audience, he directly says, “I’m Not Gonna Die Here.” The film asks the question of what future space travel will look like, and if we might actually have humans on mars sooner rather than later.
The biggest theme, however, is isolation/separation and what effects prolonged isolation has on someone. The only thing that appears to keep Mark sane through the film seems to be his access to a video log, telling both the log and viewers what he’s thinking and planning. The psychological effect of this shows up when Mark is finally rescued by his team (*spoilers*). He instantly tears up at the thought of being with other people again. Even the production design carries across this theme; the crew’s kit and equipment remind Mark that he’s all alone, with nothing and no one.
On the whole, “The Martian” does a brilliant job making the viewers feel like they’re with its protagonist. The production design, camerawork, and performances all help the viewer feel as though they’re in the film with Mark. Overall, this is a good film that showcases a sensational performance from its lead and features striking cinematography. Ridley Scott provides audiences with a movie that fans of off-planet adventures will enjoy for years to come.
