“The Martian” is Suspenseful Science Fiction
Combined with brilliant acting
Actor Matt Damon, who stars as NASA Astronaut Mark Watney in the film “The Martian,” participates in media interviews, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. NASA scientists and engineers served as technical consultants on the film. The movie portrays a realistic view of the climate and topography of Mars, based on NASA data, and some of the challenges NASA faces as we prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet in the 2030s. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Given the title audiences might assume “The Martian” is a typical, and perhaps, rather boring, science fiction movie. Based on the novel written by Andy Weir, “The Martian” is a lot more than that. One might even assign it to the subgenre comic science fiction. Directed by Ridley Scott, (“Bladerunner,” “Gladiator,” “Black Hawk Down”) the film received seven academy awards and was ranked among the top ten films of 2015 by the American Film Institute.
While on a mission to Mars, astronaut, Marc Watney (Matt Damon), is mistakenly presumed dead and left behind on the uninhabitable planet, forever changing his life and taking the audience through a roller coaster of emotions. His crew, headed by Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain), believes that he died in a freak dust storm. The team hastily returns to Earth unknowingly leaving him behind. Watney is forced to fend for himself, learning to survive on the red planet. Using his skills as botanist to his advantage, Watney finds a way to grow potatoes on a planet where nothing is supposed to grow.
Being stranded on a planet soon becomes a surreal experience for Watney when he realizes that he is truly alone. The thought of never being rescued overwhelms him at times, and he begins to unravel. This is evident with the way he carries and talks to himself throughout the film. He never gives up, and eventually NASA, led by Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) and Annie Montrose (Kristen Wiig), picks up his (audio) feed and attempt to come up with a plan for his rescue.
“The Martian” is a must see movie. It’s incredibly unpredictable, heartfelt and entertaining. The suspense will leave viewers with goose bumps. Sometimes the focus on one main character can be boring, because the majority of the movie consists of Watney’s monologue, but the brilliant acting helps carry the viewer through the dull moments. Damon is outstanding and a perfect fit, and it is refreshing to see a strong female lead like Chastain as Commander Lewis. Wiig, in a serious role, is a pleasant surprise to all. Scott’s use of special effects is top notch. You truly feel like you are a part of the movie. Simply put, “The Martian” is science fiction at its best.