“The Martian” – a film by Ridley Scott

The Martian – a film by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott, acclaimed director of many films including the cult  classic Blade Runner, is back on true form. The story follows a simple format: NASA mission to Mars becomes entangled in a storm and leaves behind, presumed dead, crew member, Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon). Damon has to come to grips with being 54 million kilometres from earth in a planet where supposedly nothing grows. Luckily he’s a botanist who goes about planting and harvesting vast quantities of potatoes to keep him nourished until he works out a plan.

Matt Damon, alone for much of the film, plays beautifully to the camera. His lines are tight and often comic. His thinking aloud processes encourage his lonely survival and we, the audience, are allowed to inhabit his world since we are the only ones being addressed. Seemingly minor touches propel both Damon and the film. The only available music in the NASA shelter on Mars is the mission commander’s (Jessica Chastain) delightful disco which both torments and amuses Damon. These musical interludes, including a great scene in the space shuttle performed to David Bowie’s Starman, are memorable. Damon’s performance, while not softened by many emotional references to his life on earth (unlike Matthew McConaughey’s role in Interstellar) still showcases all the highs, lows and fears of being stranded extremely convincingly.

Yet the film is not just a one Damon show. Scott has picked and worked exacting performances from everyone on camera including Jeff Daniels as the NASA Director and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Mars mission director. The 3D format, while effective, is low key and really not the main point of the film. It’s a believable story about the quest for survival in space and it stands on its own.