9/10

Rating: 9/10 (1 October 2015)

With "The Martian" Ridley Scott reminds us why we love movies so much and in particular he reminds me why I love space movies so freaking much! This is a great movie, there are no two ways around it. This is the reason why film fans around the world go to the cinema, we go to have these type of experiences. What a f**king blast!
Scott is finally back in his "Alien" or "Gladiator" brilliance and stages a picture that is proof of all his experience and genius. This film has so many surprises in it, it's not just Cast Away on Mars, that is actually an offense towards the film (admittedly, I am not a fan of Cast Away), but the point is that the film is funny, deep, smart, interesting and most importantly, thematically rich and vast. This is the proof of all the energy that Ridley Scott has always been accounted for, it mixes so, so many themes and ideas it's fascinating to look and see how organically it comes together. It does so much by doing so little: just a well placed and well thought shot once in a while adds layers upon layers to the film and encapsulates its messages and discussion so brilliantly.
Furthermore, it is really refreshing to see a guy stranded alone work through the situation in such a human why, with humor, drama and everything in the middle. This is how things would actually go and it is fascinating to watch at every moment. It definitely helps that the character work is absolutely outstanding. What an inspiring screenplay! Every one gets an interesting dynamic and arch, everyone manages to get a three dimensional dynamic thanks to just a couple of brief lines or shots that add so much. The amazing cast definitely helps and fortunately never feels distracting and instead adds a lot with a slew of really good if brief performances. Matt Damon has a great character to play, with an even better arch which is deep and explores everything about the premise, he rises to the occasion, it doesn't even matter he is one of the most recognizable faces on the earth, I just saw his character on screen.
He is certainly helped by amazing visuals; production design, cinematography and locations are all just one better than the other, not to mention music both in score and soundtrack choice. The CGI is absolutely seamless with the practicality involved. Combined they make for a visual treat that is really rare to have. When the tension was on it was really on, I was on the edge of my seat, I screamed no at the screen multiple times, I held my breath, it was amazing, most of all in its climax in space which is something really, really special. And once again I have to compliment the character work here because had it not been so f***ing good this would have ended up being another mildly interesting piece of no-tension-involved.
I understand how many people could blame the movie for being crafted in a slightly too mainstream way and using many staples (like crowd reactions, basic screen writing tropes or seen before characters), but to them I would say that actually this film is a reminder of why does elements have become staples in the first place: when used as well as here you don't even think of them as staples until you think back at it. They are so organically and respectfully integrated in the narrative they really did not bother me at all and I found the overall tone to work perfectly for every moment on screen.
What I might blame the film for is for not making some of the moments breathe and develop on screen. There aren't many believe me, but there is that small bunch of situations that were slightly accelerated and weren't given the time to develop and sink in because of some frenetic editing. I repeat that this doesn't happen throughout, it just happens a couple of times and the film is so good those moments really stuck out.
"The Martian" doesn't have a dull moment, it is the best film 2015 has offered us alongside "Inside Out", it is so good I teared up in joy when the credits rolled and even more when the credits' song started which fit perfectly in and reminded me of what a picture I had just seen.