A small crew of one of the first manned space missions to Mars is forced to make an urgent emergency departure. In the process it becomes apparent that one of their crew members has been mortally wounded and they see no other option but to leave his lifeless body on Mars and escape with their lives. But the abandoned crew member did not die as believed. He survived a life threatening but not life ending accident only to face the huge challenge of sustaining his life on the hostile red planet and perhaps establishing contact with NASA. And so opens the powerful and gripping film ‘The Martian’ starring Matt Damon as Astronaut Mark Watney.
Three things distinguish the character of Mark Watney; his obvious brilliance, an amazing sense of humor and an unwavering determination. It is this combination that allow him to survive if the face of staggering odds. But is it enough; can he really not only survive the hostile Martian climate but somehow reunited with his home planet earth? While this is clearly a science fiction movie it is magnificently presented in a manner that screams reality. It also at one point raises the question; can potatoes truly grow on Mars?
All too often science fiction films are created in a way that they ultimately lack any sense of real possibility. Yet while there are obvious major stretches in ‘The Martian’ it is crafted in such a way as to generate the feeling that everything you see may well be fiction it could truly happen. To me that is the key to a true science fiction masterpiece, a work that convincingly conveys the possibility of reality while constantly challenging the mind. ‘The Martian’ written by Drew Goddard and based on an Andy Weir book delivers at the peak of the art form.
It is brought to life on the screen through the direction of Ridley Scott and Oscar winning performances from Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mackenzie Davis, Donald Glover, and Nick Mohammed. A great script, superlative direction and Oscar level acting all come together to deliver a genuinely spectacular film, but there is even more.
Through the Mark Watney character we see an attitude and approach to life that is what true winners are made of and that is recognition of reality coupled with an unwillingness to quit. So while ‘The Martian’ is brilliant and severely entertaining it also delivers one of life’s most powerful lessons all in just a bit over two hours and for those who enjoy it even in 3D.