The Martian (A-) Movie Review
Ridley Scott's latest film stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, an astronaut on Mars who, after an unexpected and extreme windstorm, is left behind by his crew, consisting of Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Michael Pena, and Aksel Hennie. He must find a way to survive for four years on a small food supply, all the while praying that natural elements don't take him first.
Certainly one of the more well-received Ridley Scott films in recent memory, is The Martian also one of the better set-in-space, science fiction films in recent memory?
I think that The Martian is probably one of the best films of the year so far. Perhaps not one of the best space-set films of recent years. It didn't quite have the poetic quality or stomach-churning visuals of Gravity, nor the moving and profoundly existential ideas of Interstellar (though that's my opinion and a bit of an unpopular one). But I found it to be an exceedingly entertaining and tense sci-fi flick.
The film feels very light on its feet. It bounces between Earth scenes and Mars scenes with a nimbleness and agility. That's one thing I can say about the film, it's edited very well by Pietro Scalia. He has a great ear for comedic timing and knows when and where to cut between jokes. The film flows very naturally.
The film is technically superb. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski captures the desolate landscapes of Mars, the vastness of space, and the claustrophobia of these habitats beautifully. The sound editing and design are flawless. The visual effects are quite glossy and futuristic but feel grounded in reality. Also, Ridley Scott doesn't come off as too heavily reliant on CGI, as I understand that many of the Mars landscapes were shot on location in Wadi Rum, Jordan.
Though I don't think any of the performances in The Martian are Oscar-worthy, they're solid across the board. Matt Damon is great as Mark, a man who embodies a refreshing optimism that makes him immediately likable. Much of his performance his him saying witty things while working out problems but when he shows his more vulnerable side, he's quite remarkable. As you may expect, The Martian contains a sizable amount of scientific speak and exposition. This is not only made bearable by Matt Damon's performance but highly interesting! This could get some children excited about science which is a pretty cool thing.
Jessica Chastain, one of the greatest actresses working in my opinion, plays Commander Lewis, the commander of the Mars mission Mark was a part of before he was left behind. She portrays Commander Lewis with a charismatic confidence and is always watchable. And Kate Mara needed a more well-received sci-fi film this year than Fantastic Four which I have not seen but got a terrible rep. She's a good actress who deserves good material. Sebastian Stan, who plays The Winter Soldier in the Captain America franchise, is good in the film also, though he isn't given a whole lot to do.
Though always engaging and watchable, the film's finale is (around) thirty intense and thrilling minutes of suspense. Not once in the movies this year have I felt more excited and been watching with wide eyes at a film's conclusion.
The Martian is one of the year's best so far. A visually and narratively exciting film. You may have a hunch as to where the film will end up but it's not the destination that matters, it's the journey. And what a stellar journey it is.
FINAL GRADE: A-
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity
Certainly one of the more well-received Ridley Scott films in recent memory, is The Martian also one of the better set-in-space, science fiction films in recent memory?
I think that The Martian is probably one of the best films of the year so far. Perhaps not one of the best space-set films of recent years. It didn't quite have the poetic quality or stomach-churning visuals of Gravity, nor the moving and profoundly existential ideas of Interstellar (though that's my opinion and a bit of an unpopular one). But I found it to be an exceedingly entertaining and tense sci-fi flick.
The film feels very light on its feet. It bounces between Earth scenes and Mars scenes with a nimbleness and agility. That's one thing I can say about the film, it's edited very well by Pietro Scalia. He has a great ear for comedic timing and knows when and where to cut between jokes. The film flows very naturally.
The film is technically superb. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski captures the desolate landscapes of Mars, the vastness of space, and the claustrophobia of these habitats beautifully. The sound editing and design are flawless. The visual effects are quite glossy and futuristic but feel grounded in reality. Also, Ridley Scott doesn't come off as too heavily reliant on CGI, as I understand that many of the Mars landscapes were shot on location in Wadi Rum, Jordan.
Though I don't think any of the performances in The Martian are Oscar-worthy, they're solid across the board. Matt Damon is great as Mark, a man who embodies a refreshing optimism that makes him immediately likable. Much of his performance his him saying witty things while working out problems but when he shows his more vulnerable side, he's quite remarkable. As you may expect, The Martian contains a sizable amount of scientific speak and exposition. This is not only made bearable by Matt Damon's performance but highly interesting! This could get some children excited about science which is a pretty cool thing.
Jessica Chastain, one of the greatest actresses working in my opinion, plays Commander Lewis, the commander of the Mars mission Mark was a part of before he was left behind. She portrays Commander Lewis with a charismatic confidence and is always watchable. And Kate Mara needed a more well-received sci-fi film this year than Fantastic Four which I have not seen but got a terrible rep. She's a good actress who deserves good material. Sebastian Stan, who plays The Winter Soldier in the Captain America franchise, is good in the film also, though he isn't given a whole lot to do.
Though always engaging and watchable, the film's finale is (around) thirty intense and thrilling minutes of suspense. Not once in the movies this year have I felt more excited and been watching with wide eyes at a film's conclusion.
The Martian is one of the year's best so far. A visually and narratively exciting film. You may have a hunch as to where the film will end up but it's not the destination that matters, it's the journey. And what a stellar journey it is.
FINAL GRADE: A-
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity