Based on the best selling novel by Andy Weir, The Martian allows director Ridley Scott to return to the sci-fi genre that helped make him great. Can Scott break his recent drought of good films on the dry red soil of Mars?
Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) finds himself stranded on Mars, after an accident forces his crew to abandon him for dead. Now he needs to survive for four years, before a rescue mission can save him. To do that he just needs to grow food where nothing grows, find water where no rain has ever fallen, and pray that none of the thousand ways space has to kill him come about.
There is no doubt this is dead centre of Ridley Scott’s wheelhouse - he’s the man who defined the look of near future utilitarian science fiction with such classics as Alien and Blade Runner. Even with all the criticism levelled at Prometheus, few could deny the beauty of the visuals brought to the screen. In The Martian, Scott handles the grandeur of the alien landscape of Mars with an effortless ease. Instead of the characters and story being swamped by special effects, his practices hand lets them shine through, while at the same time never giving the audience reason the doubt the authenticity of this space-borne adventure. It is a masterful trick, and one that is richly rewarding.
Part of the reason for this pay-off is the character of Mark Watney. He might be one of the most refreshing characters to be created in recent history. There is an overwhelming sense of humour and optimism about him, despite the dire situation he often finds himself in. Instead of falling to despair about the hundreds of ways space can casually kill him, Watney knuckles down and decides to “science the shit out of it,” saving his vitriol for truly important crises (such as being left with an appalling collection of disco music). He is upbeat, determined and innovative. Damon is the perfect fit for the role, encapsulating the uniquely positive attitude of the stranded astronaut, and landing the amusing dialogue with great comic timing.
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Yet it is not Watney alone that sets this apart. The Martian is certainly one of Scott’s most humanist works. In what could so easily be a tale of one rugged individualist’s survival against a merciless environment, we are instead given a movie that expounds the virtues of teamwork. Mark is helped out by all his team, despite the little annoyance of them not being on the same planet. Hence it gives the chance for an ensemble cast to shine, as well as delivering a pro-science message.
A return to form for Ridley Scott to create an uplifting piece of great science fiction. This is an unabashed love letter to the space program and the spirit of exploration, and one of the greatest to date. In the words of Total Recall, “get your ass to Mars”.
Originally published in X-Press Magazine
