The Martian delivers captivating performances
The Martian is one of those films that comes along every once in a while that sets the bar for what an exceptional science fiction movie should be. Along with a star-studded cast, the appeal to a wide audience and strong pacing are what make this movie a must-see.
The Martian is about a mission on Mars gone wrong, resulting in a NASA team abandoning astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, and leaving him for dead. In the spirit of keeping things interesting, however, Watney survives the disaster, and the movie follows his mission of returning to Earth alive despite the odds being stacked against him.
Aside from an interesting premise, there are several factors that keep the audience entertained from start to finish. The first is the inclusion of a large number of terrific actors. Aside from Damon, performances from Kate Mara, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover, Sean Bean and others don’t disappoint. Having so many stars in a single film usually brings up the problem of someone not getting enough screen time, but that wasn’t the case in The Martian. All the actors had their moments to shine without stepping on any toes.
This included Damon himself, who proved that he can act as an astronaut who isn’t a selfish scumbag, unlike the character he played in Interstellar. His character is instantly likable right off the bat, which in turn makes his goal of getting back to Earth alive that much more compelling. Though his performance is strong throughout the movie, it’s not Oscar-worthy, as it just doesn’t have that “wow” factor. There aren’t any standout scenes for Damon that would differentiate him from other incredible performances this year, like Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Mad Max.
To be fair, this isn’t completely Damon’s fault, and the only negative about this movie that comes to mind is the underscoring of most of the dramatic moments in the film. Despite the desperation and sheer helplessness that comes with Watney’s unfortunate situation, he seems to be in a mostly chipper mood throughout the entirety of the film. It’s important to keep a calm state of mind in a stressful event, but for someone who is in a situation as delicate and seemingly impossible as his, Watney seems to crack a few too many jokes. There are plenty of opportunities for some really heart-wrenching and emotional moments in the film that are instead offset by moments that are admittedly funny, but it would have been nice to see more contrast on the emotional spectrum. Though there are scenes where something goes wrong and fear sets in, within several minutes everything returns to a state of normalcy, as if nothing bad happened in the first place. In fact, the overall tone of the movie makes it seem as if there isn’t any real danger at all sometimes, which there definitely is.
Though the movie handles tone poorly, just about everything else is incredible, especially the ability to appeal to a wide audience. Those who don’t know a thing about the field of astronomy or science in general can easily follow this movie’s plot without getting lost in the science. As the movie is heavily influenced by the exploration of space and other planets, audience members may find a newfound passion for astronomy. Being able to cater to both types of people without alienating one is no small task for a sci-fi movie, and the movie is able to accomplish this due to its fantastic pacing. For a movie that runs over two hours, it certainly didn’t feel like it. There are moments that are slower than others, but the film is never boring, and it never feels like it drags at any point. The main focus of the movie is simple enough, but there are enough events that happen to keep the audience attentive and curtail a yawn or a quick glance at a phone screen to see how much time has passed.
Overall, this movie is exceptional for a number of reasons, including its star-heavy cast who share the spotlight, a good performance from Matt Damon and wide appeal to various audiences due to excellent pacing. The only downside to this movie is the tone that somewhat negates the dramatic feelings associated with the premise of the film, but it’s hardly a reason why anyone would be hesitant to see this movie. The Martian is another great entry into the science-fiction genre and proves that it’s much more than a cheap Interstellar knock-off.