The Martian (2015)

Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Drew Goddard (based on the book by Andy Weir)
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams
Time: 141 minutes
Bottom-line: Matt Damon all the way! 

Help is only 140 million miles away...

Ridley Scott is one of those directors who has had a bumpy career in my view. His successful movies pop up occasionally, but the impact they have is tremendous. His 2015 science fiction thriller The Martian strikes all the right notes and it emerges as one of the highest rated films of 2015, and one to look out for this award season!

The year 2035: The crew of Ares III manned expedition to Mars, consisting of botanist/astronaut Mark Watney (Damon), geologist/commander Melissa Lewis (Chastain), Rick Martinez (Michael Peña), Beth (Kate Mara), Dr. Beck (Sebastian Stan) and Dr. Vogel (Askel Hinnie) are forced to abort their mission as they are struck by a severe dust storm. In this process, Watney is hit by debris, and loses contact with the crew, who presume him to be dead. Lewis gives the order to launch, leaving Watney behind. But of course, Watney isn’t dead; not yet at least! He makes his way back to the Hab and nurses himself, and finally comes to know what has happened. How does this astronaut aka “The Martian” survive on Mars, without any contact with NASA, with barely enough food for 300 sols?

Damon as botanist Mark Watney

How often does a space film offer so much of everything? The Martian is the package I’ve been waiting for all year – it has a fair amount of science, comedy, emotions and enough drama to keep you glued to your seat. The film talks about the various plans Watney comes up with to establish contact, to grow food (on a planet where nothing grows, as he puts it), produce water and so on... Simultaneously we also see how the people of NASA and other organisations, as well as the crew of Ares III put forth their efforts to rescue Watney. Of course, it is a little ridiculous to think how an astronaut can do some many things perfectly – but then, he is the best botanist on the planet, and all survival films need that sort of ultra-talented hero to make a story!

Chastain as Commander Lewis

The acting is the best part, and in that aspect, Matt Damon steals the show. This actor has got used to playing the role of a person waiting to be saved by others (following Interstellar, Saving Private Ryan and so on...), and in The Martian, he is funny, dramatic, and scientific enough, to earn himself a well-deserved Oscar nod. His humorous one-liners are one of the highlights of his performance (including his emphatic "In your face, Neil Armstrong!" ), and I also liked the way he expresses a wide range of emotions – though at times you wonder how an astronaut in that situation can afford to be so casual!  

The Ares III crew - Watney, Lewis,
Beth (Mara), Dr. Beck (Stan; in black)
and Dr. Vogel (Hinnie)

The Martian is outstanding in cinematography; every sequence is captured in a crystal-clear manner (without unnecessary shaky-cam or such). The settings and visual effects are marvellous too. I liked the way how the story portrays science, while still keeping within bounds of human abilities. As I said earlier, the hero is ultra-talented, but is not a superhero (though Watney wants to fly like Iron Man). That is the reason why as each sol goes by, you as a viewer silently keep cheering Watney to go on, and when he finally signs off, you immediately feel like applauding this brave astronaut.

Ridley’s Scott’s latest sci-fi drama is certainly one of his best films, and easily a favourite of this year’s Oscars. The story may not be entirely believable, but Damon’s magic entices you so much that you don’t really care! The Martian is my pick for this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture.

My Rating: 4.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%