Synopsis
Released in 2015, The Martian is a captivating science fiction film that intricately blends survival elements with humor, suspense, and science to tell a heartwarming story of perseverance. The film, directed by Ridley Scott, is a 2011 novel adaptation and features astronaut Mark Watney, portrayed by Matt Damon. The story begins when Watney is stranded on a Mars mission and showcases his fight against insurmountable odds to survive.
As the film opens, a routine Ares III mission is already underway. Watney is part of the astronaut team collecting samples and the crew is in the middle of a Martian storm. The storm worsens and forces the crew to abort the mission. While the crew attempts to evacuate, Watney is struck by debris and left behind, presumed dead. Command Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) makes the heart-wrenching choice to abandon the mission and leave with the crew.
In a twist of fate, Watney survives. Miraculously still alive, he gradually regains consciousness. However, he is stranded on a planet he considers hostile with no means to communicate with Earth. With scarce supplies, no planned rescue, and a hostile environment to adapt to, Watney approaches the situation with extraordinary calmness, humor, and with a hint of wit.
With the enormous burden of surviving over four years while waiting for the next Mars mission, Watney turns to science. A trained botanist and mechanical engineer, he “scienced the s*** out of it,” growing potatoes with Martian soil and human waste fertilizer. He also modifies the habitat (HAB) and continues to maintain the life support systems while developing plans for long-term survival.
NASA is the last organization to confirm Watney is alive and moving over Mars Base, which is the result of satellite imagery. Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the director of Mars missions, and his team are in a rush to find a means to establish communication and a plan to get to him. With the help of Rich Purnell (Donald Glover), an astrodynamicist who is equally quirky and brilliant, they plan the return of Ares III crew with a slingshot maneuver around Mars to get Watney.
NASA starts to communicate with Watney, who activated his Pathfinder probe, and everything is going to plan. But then the sequence of unfortunate events strikes – the HAB airlock rupture crops an explosive loss of hydroponic crops and gain systems. Followed by a missile which is intended to send supplementary support packages that detonates moments after launch. NASA and Watney are caused by these and other obstacles to quick and dangerous solutions.
As the clock ticks down, Watney gets ready for a dangerous meeting with the Hermes spacecraft. His modifications to the MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) have it stripped down to its most basic form to reach orbit. The rescue is breathtaking. A zero-gravity chase between a manned spacecraft and a makeshift escape pod in the thin atmosphere of Mars.
After a near-fatal maneuver, Watney is captured by Commander Lewis in a heart-stopping sequence and is brought back to Hermes. The film ends with Watney back on earth as a survival instructor for new astronauts, reflecting on the importance of problem-solving and never giving up. The quote shared states, “You solve one problem, then the next. If you solve enough problems, you get to go home.”
Cast & Crew
Director:
Ridley Scott
The legendary filmmaker behind Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator, Scott deftly balances the scientific and the cinematic in The Martian, crafting a film that is stunnng and intellectually engaging.
Screenplay:
Drew Goddard
Godard captured the tone of the novel by blending scientific detail, suspense, and humor as he adapted Mars and a author Andy Weir to the screen with deft dialogue and brisk pacing.
Main Cast:
Matt Damon as Mark Watney
Damon gives a strong performance portraying Watney’s character as a funny, sensitive, and strong person to the very end. By providing the film balance through humour and emotions, Damon drove the film through the main character Watney.
Jessica Chastain as Commander Melissa Lewis
Chastain gives some insight into the character. She is a reserved person with quiet strength. Returning back for Watney is a character defining moment as it showcases how the film revolves around the theme of togetherness and sacrifice.
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Vincent Kapoor
As the man put in charge of the rescue operation, Ejiofor gives a steady, intellectual performance. He is the human face of NASA’s efforts on Earth.
Jeff Daniels as Teddy Sanders
Daniels plays the pragmatic NASA director, representing the complex balance between politics, risk management, and ethics.
Donald Glover as Rich Purnell
Glover’s brief but memorable role injects humor and ingenuity into the mission-planning process. His solution to the rescue dilemma is the pivotal moment in the film.
The Hermes crew is completed with Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Aksel Hennie, who contribute to the team’s spirit and camaraderie during the space travel scenes.
Cinematography:
Dariusz Wolski
The film’s Mars and NASA scenes, as well as Hermes’s spacecraft interior, offer breathtaking views of Mars’ landscapes, filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan, and NASA’s high-tech Hermes spacecraft.
Music:
Harry Gregson-Williams
The soundtrack includes 70’s iconic songs such as “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summers and “Waterloo” by ABBA. These tracks add an element of charm and fun to the storyline, which is paired with the hope and tension present.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
The Martian has an IMDb rating of 8.0/10, which speaks to both the viewership and the critic’s reception. The movie did particularly well commercially and received accolades for its unique combination of optimism, thrilling adventure, and scientific accuracy.
At the 88th Academy Awards, the film received 7 nominations;
- Best Picture
- Best Actor (Matt Damon)
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Production Design
- Best Sound Mixing
- Best Sound Editing
Although it did not win any of these 7 awards, The Martian won 2 Golden Globe awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Matt Damon. This classification as a comedy stirred some conversation, but it did shine a light on the film’s use of humor as a coping mechanism.
Its scientific accuracy was appreciated by critics due to Andy Weir’s novel and input from NASA consultants. Although some artistic portrayals were used, like the intensity of the Martian storm, many viewed it as the best realistic representation of space exploration in film to date.
Final Thoughts
The Martian serves as a film about survival, but more importantly, a film that embodies the collaborative efforts of humanity’s intelligence and hope. It depicts what is possible to accomplish through cooperation beyond borders and fields. Mark Watney is a nontraditional hero; he is a scientist, an engineer, a hero of modern times. His triumph is through humor, intelligence, and a lot of grit, not traditional displays of power.
Scott’s direction allows the film to maintain a fast pace filled with purpose and spirit as well as energy. It does not feel too technical or constricted. Through Matt Damon’s portrayal, Watney becomes one of the most relatable and inspiring characters in modern cinema.
While other works of science fiction focus on grim futures, The Martian offers glimpses of hope. The story illustrates how, even in the harshest of situations, the ability to think, adapt, and keep fighting is our greatest asset.
In the words of Watney in the closing scenes of the film, “At some point, everything’s gonna go south on you… you can either accept that, or you can get to work.”
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