Saving Private Damon: Space Version

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2015)

(Rating: â˜†â˜†â˜†Â½ out of 4)
This film is highly recommended.
In brief: Ridley Scott's epic film may not be the most original of tales but it is done with style and technical expertise making it gripping drama.
GRADE: B+
Our obsession with Mars and space exploration has been instilled with us for decades, particularly starting in the mid-fifties. From Marvin the Martian to War of the Worlds, from Total Recall to Forbidden Planet, from Robinson Crusoe on Mars to Lost in Space, we are eager to travel the unchartered frontier to seek new thrills. Now we can add to this roster of space adventure sagas yet another entry, The Martian.
ï¿¼A man lost in space, left to his own wiles to live in space. Such is the less than original premise of Ridley Scott's The Martian, a solid and engrossing tale of survival. In this outer space epic, there are no aliens preying on human flesh or starship battle wars. The dangers in space exploration are evident and shown as real and probable. This is the type of film that computer nerds and sci-fi geeks will love, most moviegoers will greatly admire, and some may get a little bored with the film's lack of action sequences until the film's concluding rescue mission.
The Martian is more of the well crafted filmmaking we have come to expect from Ridley Scott. Scott is a talented and astute director and his detailed vision and style is in every frame. In this sci-fi film, he emphasizes the science more than the fiction. He seems a tad preoccupied about the film's authenticity with its scientific concepts and mathematical theories. The Martian takes its subject seriously and celebrates human ingenuity and man's inner courage against all odds with a sincere and honest depiction of one man forced to come to terms with his own mortality.
ï¿¼That man, namely Mark Watney, is played by Matt Damon. Left behind after being caught in a storm, the astronaut is left to his own devices. Damon plays his character very well. He becomes the center of the film as he narrates his dilemma via a video log as he counts the days and his rations. His dialog serves as exposition and very clearly explains to the movie-going audience his intriguing thought process. The actor brings his boyish charm and likability to his role. His performance helps to ground the film and gives the audience a hero to root for. There is also fine support from Jessica Chastain as the ship's commander and Chiwetzel Ejiofor as Watney's NASA connection to Earth.
ï¿¼The film is technically superb. Its visual effects are impressive throughout and the photography by Dariusz Wolski excels on the three dimensional elements very effectively, with its wide depth of field when showing objects and astronauts floating effortlessly in space or panning the vast panoramic views of the red planet. But the script by Drew Goddard, based on Andy Weir's best seller, is less effective with its stock one dimensional supporting characters that rarely register any sense of reality or personality (the closely-bonded crew, the professionally trained personnel at NASA, the young obsessed genius physicist, etc.)
While the film is very well cast (Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Kristen Wiig), the actors are not given much to do dramatically than look stern or stoic. It's all a kinda Saving Private Damon's scenario, but it is gripping entertainment nevertheless.
ï¿¼The Martian is an intelligent and imaginative retelling of one man's will to live, well worth the trek.
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com