Review- The Martian

Topical reviews are back and now they have a slightly more pretentious edge thanks to my training in Film Studies. Except I'll just end up talking about the film looking pretty instead of it's "cinematography" or "mise en scene". Regardless, enjoy!

The Martian is based on the (fantastic) book of the same name by Andy Weir and focuses on Matt Damon who has been left for dead by his crew after an accident and has to survive on Mars for four years until help is sent to him. The film does rely quite a bit on the plot and how it develops so I won't say anymore but it's an ever developing story with the desire to survive always at the forefront. Unfortunately, having read the book, I knew many of the events that were to come and that's probably my biggest complaint about the film. I know that saying that I knew the plot isn't really a flaw on the film but I feel like it will damage repeat viewings slightly due to how heavily it leans on the plot. Regardless, the plot is great and it has some fantastic moments of humour. If you haven't read the book, you'll adore the plot but readers of the book will still get huge amounts of joy from seeing everything played out on screen.

All of the acting in this film is fantastic. The main focus is, of course, Matt Damon as Mark Watney. He's the only man on a planet, he has to carry the film all by himself. Under a weaker actor, the film would have collapsed like a human in space but with Damon's capable skills used to full effect, it's fantastic. He's funny, he's charming, he's also a huge nerd but still a super likable guy. He nails the persona of Watney as it was written in the book. There's also a great physical commitment from him as in the later bits of the film, when rations start to lessen, he gets super skinny. Like, Christian Bale in The Machinist skinny. There isn't a single weak performance here but highlights include Jessica Chastain, Chewitel Ejiofor and Donald Glover. The whole crew both on the spaceship and back on Earth give stellar (I apologise) performances, even if it becomes slightly cluttered later on.

Finally, Ridley Scott's direction is sublime. Every single shot feels fresh and due to his talent, it feels like an incredibly confident film. I know that's a bit odd to say about a man who's been making films for five decades now but it's true. With every scene, we are drawn into this world and we care so deeply about Watney and his escape from Mars. Also worth a mention are the special effects. All of the things in space look genuine, the action scenes are belivable and Mars looks gorgeous. I don't know where or how they filmed this but for a desolate wasteland, it is incredible looking. I'd say it's one of the strongest settings for a film yet this year, right up there with Fury Road's Wasteland. Scott may have been blowing us away since Alien in the 70s but he's still got it and can make us laugh, tremble and care just as well as any other film maker around.

The Martian is one of this year's essential films. It's gripping and entertaining in equal measure and showcases the talent of both cast and crew. Even if you don't like Sci-Fi, even if you haven't read the book, even if you (somehow) don't like Matt Damon that much, this film is a must see. It may become a bit cluttered near the end but I still give it a