Ridley Scott is one of the most iconic directors of modern cinema. He has been at the helm of some of the most critically acclaimed films of the past fifty years, with Alien, Gladiator and Blade Runner being just a few examples. In saying this, his last few projects have not been up to his usually high standards and have split the opinion of critics. 2012's Prometheus was considered a lacklustre continuation of the Alien franchise, while Exodus: God and Kings was universally panned by critics. So, with the release of his latest feature, many questioned whether the three time Oscar nominee had lost his ability to create a truly memorable cinematic masterpiece. These naysayers will now have to eat their words, as The Martian is a emphatic return to form for the acclaimed filmmaker.
First things first, The Martian is a beautifully shot film. The special effects are nothing short of breathtaking, as would be expected from any Ridley Scott movie. The film's depiction of space lies perfectly on the line between science-fiction and reality. Watching it, you actually feel like you feel like you are in outer space, and because of this these shots fill the viewer with a sense of wonder and awe. The use of 3D cameras really adds something to the film watching experience, as it did in Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, and is not used needlessly, as is the case with many other big-budget Hollywood productions (take the recent reboot of Clash of the Titans or Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland as prime examples). The backdrop for the red planet was shot at Wadi Rum (also known as "The Valley of the Moon") in Jordan, which proves a truly convincing, almost unearthly filming location. Its vast spaces and and deep valleys truly helps transport the audience to Mars. The monotonous terrain, void of any form of vegetation, animal life or signs of civilisation really hammers home the idea of the stranded astronaut truly being alone on this planet and the terrifying implications that this brings. Location actually plays a huge part in the story-telling throughout the whole movie; from the frantic feel of the NASA headquarters to the calmness and serenity of Ares 3 spaceship, each location seems to take on a personality of its own, and this aids in keeping the film well-balanced and perfectly paced throughout its two and a half hour run time. Simply put, both the practical and special effects in this film are flawless.
However, all of these attempts to perfect every cinematographic element would be futile if not held together by a truly engaging story, and in this area The Martian also holds up strong. While the films advertising may have made many believe this was going to be a serious and gritty survival flick akin to films like 127 Hours, the tone is surprisingly light hearted. More than anything else, The Martian is a story about perseverance and the human spirit. It contains brilliantly witty dialogue and is surprisingly very funny. Essentially, the filmmakers take everything you thought this film was going to be and turn it on its head. And yes, while this more cheerful tone may mean that the more dramatic moments of the picture pack a bit less of a punch, it makes for a enjoyable watch and those two and half hours you sit in the theatre go by so quickly.
Now, you can have great visuals and have a great story, but unless you secure a great lead for your picture, it is more than likely to fall flat. Thank goodness then that Matt Damon is sublime in this movie. While the Good Will Hunting star is usually pretty solid in everything he does, this could potentially be his best performance to date and he is thoroughly deserving of his Oscar nomination. For a substantial portion of the film, Damon is alone on screen. He has the sole responsibility of carrying a fair portion of the movie on his shoulders, and while it might not be as dramatically heavy as say Tom Hank's role in Robert Zemmickis' Cast Away, Damon certainly shows off his charisma and impeccable comic timing, while also lacing in different emotional layers to his character. Matt Damon proves why he is one of the biggest leading men in Hollywood. And yet, while there is no show without Punch, it would be unfair not to give a mention to The Martian's stellar supporting cast, particularly the team at NASA, who fill what could have been relatively boring scenes on Earth with a certain energy and urgency that makes them just as fun to watch as some of the moments out in space. Jeff Daniels is perfectly cast as NASA director Teddy Sanders, convincingly portraying the part of a leader torn between protecting his job and public image and bringing Wattney home. Chiwetal Ejifor, Sean Bean and Benedict Wong are also standouts from "Earths" supporting cast, while Kirsten Wiig is impressive in a less comedy heavy role than the general audience would be used to seeing from the comedienne. The crew of Ares 3, which included Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara and Michael Peña, also did well in there respective roles, however it would have been good to see them get a bit more screen time.
While The Martian is a very high quality film, it does do a few things wrong. As mentioned previously, the lighthearted tone does come at the expense of some of the films more serious moments. You never feel that NASA won't rescue Wattney, and that is an issue purely because it makes the more dramatic moments lose the emotion they may have otherwise evoked. Also, the film is littered with a selection of minor and supporting characters that it can be hard to keep up. For example, Donald Glover's character is completely unnecessary, while the inclusion of the CNSA swallows up restricted screen time that would have been better used investing in the more major supporting characters. As a result, a romance between Kate Mara and Sebastian Stan seems to come completely out of left field, and other characters don't get the full development that they probably deserved.
These minor problems aside, The Martian really is a great film. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking at times and the acting is very strong throughout, particularly Matt Damon's portrayal of our lead protagonist. He shows off his skill as both a comedic and dramatic actor, and puts himself back on the map, after a few disappointing post-Bourne years. Overall, the film is great fun and very uplifting, with a brilliant soundtrack that will have you humming along in your seat. It is enjoyable, entertaining and funny, and is by far one of the best movies of 2015.
Score: 8.6/10
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