Film: The Martian
Starring: Matt Damon
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Though it’s nothing like the survival thriller teased in trailers and posters, Ridley Scott’s new film The Martian is enjoyable fall cinema that doesn’t require much thought.
In the middle of an expedition to Mars, a team of scientists finds themselves caught outside in the middle of a strong storm that threatens not only their lives, but also their ability to leave the planet altogether. Panicked, the captain makes a quick decision to flee Mars before the situation gets any worse, but in order to do so she must choose whether or not to leave behind a team member who was carried out of sight by debris. It’s a moment that will dictate the course of the film from that point forward, and as you probably already know she chooses to leave him behind.
To the surprise of everyone, including the astronaut in question, the man left to die on the surface of Mars survives. He awakes long after the storm has passed, and somehow manages to make it indoors before his damaged suit allows too much of the red planet’s atmosphere to penetrate its many protective layers. He cannot send a distress signal because the only communications satellite was destroyed in the storm, so instead he chooses to focus on caring for the injuries he sustained overnight. Once those are handled, his focus shifts to food and water, as the only chance he has lies in finding a way to live until a rescue team can reach him. That is, if he can find a way to tell everyone he isn’t dead.
Matt Damon is the astronaut, or in this case, The Martian. One might imagine that waking to find you’re the only person on a planet that is literally years of travel away from your home might send someone into shock, but Damon’s character has a far stronger constitution than most. He is focused and determined from the very beginning, perhaps to a fault. Scott’s script rarely provides any time at all for Damon to dwell on the hopelessness of his situation, or the loved ones he has left behind on Earth. His character is positive and forward-thinking almost from the moment he awakes following the storm. It makes for an incredibly stunted protagonist, but those wishing more movies focused on action over emotion will be pleased.
In fact, it’s the almost complete lack of depth in character and story that is The Martian’s biggest shortcoming. There is plenty happening throughout the film, from basic survival to establishing communications, planning a rescue, and ultimately embarking on said rescue mission, but it all comes and goes without offering the slightest insight into the minds of the numerous characters. This is all the more surprising when one considers the cast bringing those characters to life. Outside of Damon, The Martian also features Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Michael Pena, Jessica Chastain, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Donald Glover, but not one of them is given more to do than be a very straightforward, one-dimensional character. One can only assume Scott did this so that he could fit more action into the film’s runtime without delivering a 3-hour final cut, but it comes at the cost of a more rewarding viewing experience.
This is not to say The Martian is not a fun film because it most certainly is. Like Armageddon, it takes what could be a terrifying space adventure and transforms it into an essentially all-ages romp through the galaxy, complete with over-the-top special effects and a soundtrack comprised almost entirely of throwback pop hits (in this case, disco classics). There are moments of tension, as well as a lot of famous people looking concerned, but you rarely get the sense anyone on screen believes Damon will die on Mars. That idea is almost never even mentioned, as if doing so would somehow make the worst case scenario more likely to happen. While I can appreciate people not wanting to acknowledge the potential for failure, the film misses numerous opportunities for added dramatic weight as a result, and in turn the overall experience is less fulfilling than you know it could have been.
The Martian is easily Ridley Scott’s most accessible film to date, but it comes at the cost of the highbrow storytelling the iconic filmmaker has built his brand upon. This movie is so focused on surface-level drama that it’s a surprise the studio didn’t push it out as a summer tentpole because that is exactly how it feels. You know you should care more than you do, but thanks to an endless array of quirky quips and eye-popping 3D you disregard the nagging voice that tells you what you’re watching could (and should) be better. The Martian is good, but not great, so don’t expect to walk away comparing it to Gravity or 2001. Just shut off your mind and have fun.
GRADE: B
