The novel The Martian
was the best book I’ve read so far this year (find my full review here), so how
did Hollyweird handle the movie version? Outstandingly.
As in the book,
astronaut Mark Watney is a botanist/engineer accidently left stranded on Mars
when a freak windstorm descends on his exploration team. Left for dead, Watney
has to figure out how to survive on a hostile planet with little food or water
for 900 days, until NASA can mount a rescue operation. How he does so, with
many twists and turns and a lot of sciencey-type stuff, is as fascinating to
watch as it was to read.
Screenwriter Drew Goddard’s (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) script takes just what it needs to from
the book to make a tight, suspenseful screenplay. Director Ridley Scott has
unleashed his best film in years, making the science of the story work fine
despite the audience’s ignorance of engineering or botany (speaking strictly
for myself). Scott’s once brilliant work has degenerated to boring political
correctness in recent years; it’s good to see he can still focus enough to tell
a clear, agenda-free story. Casting is spot on, as the race and nationality of
some characters are changed from the book, but still resonate with their
literary cousins. Main character Watney is portrayed by Matt Damon, at best a
flavor-of-the-day but never a great actor. Whatever he did to achieve this particular performance I hope he continues doing. Damon reflected the loneliness and humor
of Watney perfectly while keeping the audience interested in the daily drudgery
of living alone on an alien planet.
The ending is a triumph (did you think it
wouldn’t be?) perfectly handled by the cast and the deft hand of director
Scott. The Martian movie is an excellent
companion to the novel, which I suggest you read first. It’s fantastic.
Rating:
****½ stars out of 5
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