THE MARTIAN Effectively Thrills And Entertains As One Of The Year's Best Films.

THE MARTIAN

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Jeff Daniels.
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity.

Ridley Scott has long been one of my favorite directors having helmed my all-time favorite film, Gladiator. I can't help but get excited whenever his name is attached to a project, yet many of his recent directorial efforts have lacked emotional weight, strong characters, or thrilling plots. Thankfully, The Martian is Scott's best film in years led by outstanding work from lead actor Matt Damon and a stellar script from Drew Goddard.


The Martian begins by chronicling the mission of the Ares III and its crew as they explore and study the terrain and atmosphere of the infamous red planet. When a turbulent storm arrives sooner than expected the team, led by Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain), must abort the mission and return to the Ares III spacecraft. During their retreat, team member and botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is struck by flying debris and believed to be dead. Left with no choice, Commander Lewis orders the team's evacuation and return to Earth. Watney, having survived the storm, must find a way to live on a planet that has no resources, and attempt to contact NASA in the hopes that a rescue mission will be launched.

Though The Martian shares a similar framework to other survival/space films, namely Cast Away and Apollo 13, Martian offers a unique spin on the genre with its contagious optimism and sense of humor. Make no mistake, there are scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat and others filled with visual brilliance, but the heart of the film lies in Matt Damon's character. This is a guy that you almost instantly fall in love with and one that you constantly root for. The film could have reveled in misery and despair, but the entire story is filled with hope. It's one of the best adventure films we've had in decades.

Though this is Damon's movie, the supporting cast is one of the best around. Chastain is solid in her role as the team commander, though I would've liked to have seen her more throughout the film's first half along with the rest of the crew. However, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor provide great supporting work as NASA's key leaders back on Earth. What is especially unique to the film is the lack of a villain, which was a breath of fresh air, surprisingly. Every character is dedicated and united in the effort to bring Mark home, and it's awe-inspiring.

With both thrilling and humorous scenes, the film could have struggled with its tone and pacing. Fortunately, Scott directs the film effortlessly and gives audiences a fun and inspiring adventure. The Martian may have benefited from a slightly tighter run time, but right when the film seems to slow down it picks up immediately with a rousing finale; I was inspiried and thoroughly entertained. It's been a great weekend at the movies with both Sicario and The Martian hitting theaters nationwide. While Sicario may cause you to question your faith in humanity, The Martian will certainly restore it.

RATING: A