I’ve had a long think about it – and I reckon that being left for dead on another planet (Mars in this case) probably ranks as the worst-possible scenario anybody could realistically face.
That’s the situation facing NASA astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon – The Bourne Identity) in this Ridley Scott directed adaptation of Andy Weir’s book The Martian.
Imagine Castaway set in space, but with the added negative that you’ve got limited oxygen, food and water… plus you’re quite literally years away from potentially being rescued.
As a sci-fi lover, The Martian has had my attention for quite some time. But I’m happy to tell you that it’s better than even I had imagined – and has to be a genuine film of the year contender for me.
From the very first scene, The Martian grabs your attention. The world-building is simply sublime, with Mars looking as beautiful as it is deadly.
Here we find Watney, along with his team, mid-way through an exploratory mission to the red planet.
However, when a savage storm comes in team leader Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain – Interstellar) is left with no choice but to abort and blast her team back off to earth.
As they make their way back to their shuttle, Watney is struck by debris and blown away – presumed dead.
Although NASA announce his death and even hold his funeral, we all know he’s alive – but the catch is that he’s got to figure out how to survive on Mars (and let everyone know he’s not dead to boot).
Much like Tom Hanks in 2000’s Castaway, it’s down to Damon to deliver a strong individual performance here as he’s essentially talking to himself via video log.
Be it working out a way to grow food, create water, travel long distances or get in touch with Earth, Watney talks us through every decision step by step – or as he calls it, sciencing the heck out of it (heck isn’t the actual word he uses, of course).
It’s amazing to watch, with Damon putting in what has to be his best cinematic showing in quite some time, if not ever.
It’s far from a one-man show, however. On the contrary, there seems to be a big name filling pretty much every role in The Martian.
We’re regularly introduced to people at NASA and JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) – who have the various skills required to mount the rescue mission.
As well as the always impressive Chastain, the likes of Kate Mara (Fantastic Four), Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Sean Bean (Game Of Thrones), Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom),
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Michael Pena (Ant-Man) and Donald Glover (Magic Mike XXL) all have roles to play in the bid to bring Watney home.
That’s a lot of characters to get to know, but I found that the recognisable nature of each actor helped in that regard. I never felt like I spent too long away from Watney and his bid to survive, with the plan to save him equally as intriguing as events on Mars.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Daniels as Teddy Sanders, the man in charge at NASA. Like his turn as Will McAvoy in The Newsroom, he’s at his provocative best here, with Bean and Ejiofor also stand-out performers.
I watched The Martian in 3D – and it was one of my best experiences of the technology to date.
I’d recommend you do the same, as it’s a beautiful and magnetising film that you’ll want to immerse yourself into as fully as possible.
Voice Verdict: 9.5/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End cinema)
+ Damon is amazing
+ Great story
+ Believable science
+ Incredible visuals
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Oct 9 to Thurs, Oct 15)
**PAN 2D (12A) [SPECIAL PREVIEWS]
1pm (Sat/Sun), 3.30pm (Sat/Sun), 6pm (Sat/Sun)
**THE WALK 3D (PG)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 8.30pm (daily)
**THE WALK 2D (PG)
5.40pm (daily)
**SUFFRAGETTE (12A)
12.30pm (Wed), 3pm (Wed), 3.45pm (Mon/Tues/Thurs), 6pm (Mon-Thurs), 8.30pm (Wed/Thurs)
**REGRESSION (15)
4.15pm (not Sat/Sun), 6.30pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)
**HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 2D [SPECIAL PREVIEWS] (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Sat/Sun)
THE INTERN (12A)
Noon (Wed), 3pm (Fri), 4pm (Thurs), 6pm (Fri), 8.40pm (not Thurs)
THE MARTIAN 3D (12A)
11.30am (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 8.25pm (daily)
THE MARTIAN 2D (12A)
5.30pm (Daily)
THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS 2D (12A)
Noon (Sun), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Wed), 5.30pm (not Thurs)
LEGEND (18)
8.20pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon)
KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.30am – Cinderella (U)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – The Intern (12A)
** FREE LIST SUSPENDED
