Film Analysis: The Martian (2015)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast:

Matt Damon as Mark Watney Chiwetel Ejiofor as Venkat Kristen Wiig as Annie Montrose
Kapoor
Jessica Chastain as Melissa Sean Bean as Mitch Henderson
Lewis Michael Peña as Rick Martinez
Donald Glover as Rich Purnell
Kate Mara as Beth Johanssen Aksel Hennie as Alex Vogel
Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park
Jeff Daniels as Teddy Sanders Sebastian Stan as Chris Beck
Naomi Scott as Ryoko

This movie, The Martian directed by Ridley Scott is one of the best science fiction film
with a touch of comedy, drama and full of action that will satisfy and blow your creative mind.
It is probably about the struggling of an astronaut on a desolate planet in order to survive
and to come back home. The Martian ending is a pretty satisfying conclusion to
a very intense personal battle.

The narrative stakes of The Martian are established in the first fifteen minutes. Mark
Watney (Matt Damon) is abandoned on Mars by his fellow team of NASA astronauts after he
is struck be debris from a severe storm on the planet. Watney survives the storm, and finds
himself alone on Mars with enough supplies to last him a few months if he rations. The rest of
the movie follows Watney’s efforts to survive and his efforts of NASA to try and bring him home.
As can be expected in these types of movies and real-world survival scenarios, not everything
goes according to plan and more and more problems compound survival/rescue. However,
this is not a disaster porn film. This is ultimately a movie about the strength of the human spirit
and will.

The central theme of The Martian is the choice between accepting circumstances or
taking action. Mark Watney can either accept that he is going to die on Mars or that he will do
everything he can to survive. NASA has the choice to let Mark Watney die or attempt a resupply
and rescue, which risks the lives of other astronauts. There is no great call to action, no great
speech to motivate people to make the choices they make. Instead it is an internal debate, a
weighing of options ethically and morally to come to a decision. This movie should become an
instant favorite for coaches and players of organized sports. We have constantly been told by
competitors and coaches that players and individuals can either accept their circumstances or
do something to overcome them. This is a movie about motivation and action. Instead of
disaster porn, it is a movie for people that love competence and human ingenuity.

NASA comes out of this movie with a very strong recommendation both from the writers
and the director (Ridley Scott). The engineers and scientists portrayed in the film are portrayed
as the best and brightest the world has to offer, being able to deliver incredible results under
impossible deadlines and circumstances. Audiences have seen this before in Apollo 13 when
NASA’s engineers manage to find a way to make a square air-filter fit a round hole using tape,
socks, and plastic bags. The unifying theme in most space exploration movies and science-
fiction is that space travel unites the planet. Without spoiling anything major in the film, the
Chinese space program comes to NASA’s aid by launching a probe to help resupply Watney.
In this regard, one gets the distinct impression that Scott and the filmmakers want to see the
United States and the rest of the world take a greater interest in space exploration. It is a little
utopian to believe that all our problems and arguments on this planet can be set aside and
solved via space exploration, indeed Scott’s choice of “Love Train” during the credits montage
is a dead giveaway, but it is still a pleasant and optimistic thought.

Matt Damon delivers a terrific performance in the film. As a leading man, Damon gets
to be charming, funny, exasperated, and inventive mostly by himself. One of the best story
telling decisions made in production is Watney’s use of the Mars mission recordings to talk
directly to the audience to update them on his situation and explain some of the science going
on in the film. Instead of using some hokey and long-winded exposition, each use of the
mission log feels natural and allows for the audience to connect with Watney as his character
develops throughout the film. The rest of the ensemble cast is filled with talented and
competent actors from Jessica Chastain and Jeff Daniels all the way to Donald Glover and
Michael Peña. No one feels miscast or out of place, though I did wish we had more time to
explore some of the supporting characters.

In conclusion, The Martian is a brilliantly shot and well-made film that is filled with great
story-telling, character development, and emotional heft. It is easily Ridley Scott’s best made
movie in several years and stands on its own as a complete and intact story. The movie is
funny, charming, and is a tribute to NASA and human achievement and survival. I would not
be surprised at all during Oscar season to see nominations for adapted screenplay, editing,
and possibly a best actor nod for Matt Damon. In a time when spectacle sometimes outweighs
story, The Martian finds that perfect balance and makes for an excellent cinematic experience.