Dog’s Movie House: “The Martian” One Of The Best Films Of The Year!

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Matt Damon As Nick Watney In “The Martian”

I count myself a pretty big fan of Ridley Scott.  After all, he’s responsible for modern classics like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator.”  For all of his success, however, he’s hit a few snags lately with bombs like “The Counselor” and “Exodus: Gods And Kings.”  I’m happy to report that Sir Ridley is back in fine form with his adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel “The Martian,” one of the most thriller space sagas since “Gravity.”

“The Martian” tells the tale of Nick Watney (Matt Damon) an astronaut who gets marooned on Mars during a freak storm that forces the rest of the expedition to take off.  Thinking him dead, they barely escape the Red Planet with their own lives, yet the lose of Watney haunts them.

Except for the fact that Watney’s not dead.  Debris impaled his suit and shut down is bio-monitors, and no one is more surprised than he is when he wakes up and finds himself in trouble, but very much alive.  What follows is a gripping tale of survival and hope told from the perspective of several people, including the folks on Earth at NASA, Watney’s crew, and of course, Watney himself.

One of the things that amazed me about “The Martian” was in its overwhelming positive message.  This isn’t a dour affair, filled with doom and gloom, ala “Interstellar” (which I enjoyed very much, by the way) or and exercise in terror and isolation they way “Gravity” was.  No, this is very much a tale of the power of the human mind and spirit and, even when things don’t go well for Watney, he’s always attempting to think around corners to find the solution to whatever problem arises.

The acting here is first rate, with Damon delivering an awards worthy performance as Watney.  He spends almost the entirety of the film in isolation, with only a monitor for company, yet unlike Robert Redford in “All Is Lost”, Damon is called upon to talk quite a bit.  Oftentimes it’s to the computer log but he also spends a great deal of time talking to himself, which to me is a more realistic course of action in the face of extreme isolation.  It was one of the problems I had with “All Is Lost” in that Redford hardly ever talks and to me, that’s not the way a human being would act.  In Damon’s case, his dialogue never feels forced or ham-handed and is frequently very funny (thanks, no doubt, to Drew Goddard’s sharp script.).   Damon infuses Watney with optimism and life and you find yourself rooting for him from the get-go.

The supporting cast, while not given as much to do, is equally impressive, with Jessica Chastain and Michael Pena as the standouts among Watney’s crew, and Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofer, and Sean Bean as the folks back at NASA.  All of these people are very smart characters trying to do the right thing in different ways.  There are no stereotypical heroes and villains in Goddard’s script (although the trailers seem to want to paint Daniel’s head of NASA as a bad guy) and I found that very refreshing.

Scott directs with a sure hand and a sense of forward momentum that makes the two hour-plus running time feel more like ninety minutes.  The special effects are so convincing that you forget they are special effects and the science of the situation is always put at the forefront, giving the audience an authentic feel throughout.  If a manned mission to Mars was possible, this might actually be the way it’s done.  Watney’s scientific solutions to food, air, and communications are wonderfully entertaining to watch, and his plans for eventually escaping the Red Planet are as thrilling as any comic book battle you’ll see on screen this year.  Even the Iron Man bit, though a bit farfetched, is played for maximum effect.  (Note: there is also a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing Sean Bean (Boramir in Lord Of The Rings) explain a Lord Of The Rings reference to his fellow scientists.)

If you want a film that is perfect for all ages and is by equal measures thrilling, funny, intelligent, and moving, “The Martian” may be the perfect movie for you.  I know that this is one I’ll be seeing again soon.  5 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer!  So Sayeth The Kendog!

“The Martian” Is Rated PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity.