Same time last year another movie like this was released. It is also about space travel, and it involves Matt Damon too, as well as the effort to rescue him from something. That’s Interstellar. I thought they are somehow related. Yes and no.
Interstellar was so depressing. Depressingly good, and is probably one of my favorite films of all time. I was worried about the comparison, that somehow The Martian will compete with Interstellar and I was worried that it will win. Turns out they’re different. Ridley Scott have adapted the book to this funny, wickedly entertaining movie that you will forget the joylessness of Christopher Nolan.
Same cast, without Matthew McConaghuey. Well, that’s only Jessica Chastain and Matt Damon. Jeff Daniels is here, and Kristen Wiig, with Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Michael Peña and a host of others. Mark Watney was left behind and assumed dead, but with the power of human survival instinct he managed to survive long enough to figure out how he can go back home.
The internet made no excuse in pointing out how Matt Damon managed himself to get into roles the require the world’s resources to rescue him. He was the Private Officer who needed saving, the scientists stuck in a planet and was repeated here. Only this time he really deserved being saved, against all odds.
It is so shocking to see this movie as a funny one. It’s not comedy, but it became unbelievably light, thanks to the humor of Damon’s character, as well as those who were on earth. I didn’t expect that at all. Sometimes I thought it was unnecessarily funny, but I wonder why the drama needed to be toned down despite the complexity of the issue at hand. But it managed to work itself out. I’m very impressed.
This is one of the best performances by Matt Damon. He seemed comfortable and at his element the whole time. Splendid supporting actors headed by Jeff Daniels as the Director of NASA. And really nice to see Kristen Wiig and Jessica Chastain.
Top-Notch effects. You get a little bit of nostalgia from Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity at the final scenes. And one more thing that surprised me, aside from the humor, is the disco music. So much Gloria Gaynor going on all over.
The movie asks the question, is it worth saving one man’s life at the expense of others? Maybe if you’re stuck on a barren planet, the answer is yes. There is human spirit vibrating all throughout the film. After all, we are just one race, and despite our differences we can gather together to save our own. China was redeemed in this movie. Hopefully in the real-life setting too.
Surprisingly funny and light, The Martian offers amazing performances specially from Matt Damon. Visually stunning, and elegantly executed, we have one of Ridley Scott’s masterpieces at hand.
Grade: 4.5/5
Movies In A Nutshell 