Derived from a novel by Andy Weir, “The Martian” is a straightforward and thrilling survival-and-rescue adventure, without the metaphysical and emotional trappings of “Interstellar“.
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During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. He’s a tough character to pilot, this sceptical geek know-it-all, but Damon has the charm and wit to land some tricky one-liners.
“The Martian” doesn’t take liberties with issues like gravity that other movies might have; Scott noted they determined heavy spacesuits would make up for the lower gravitational pull on Mars. “I am hoping that with Interstellar and Gravity and now The Martian, that young girls are gonna watch this film and they’re going to want to go to Mars, and will open up a whole new career path for girls who didn’t really know it was a possibility”, Chastain added. Hanks’ Cast Away character was a regular guy; just figuring out how to start a fire was a huge struggle.
It’s awfully quiet in space, which is a problem if you’re trying to make a blockbuster movie.
With Matt Damon’s effortless charm and a lively supporting cast, it’s safe to go into space with Ridley Scott again. There is never a slow moment in The Martian, as minds and mechanics whir in harmony-Scott and Goddard create an all-hands esprit de corps that is, with just the right amount of corniness, downright uplifting.
Like numerous media on the carpet (the women among us anyway), I wondered if Colin Farrell, who stars alongside Weisz in the film, might make a surprise appearance despite not being listed as a confirmed guest. One man’s refusal to fold acts as an ode to the unquenchable human spirit, with science and Scott always on hand to quell any cheap sentiment. Damon replied that he would take his wife, his children, “and my shrink”. Co-star Michael Peña joked that he was “the first Mexican in space”.
Back on Earth, Nasa finally spot signs of life, and rig up a makeshift way to message Mark using some crusty old satellite they bring out of the back cupboard. That was the hollow promise “Tomorrowland” offered this past summer, featuring a feel-good epilogue in which its white heroes recruited a diverse range of talented young people around the world. I’m very happy that on a crew of six people, two are women.
Jessica, ever gracious, introduced me to Tracy Dyson, a NASA astronaut who consulted on the film and gave Jessica serious instruction. So our odds are better.
Of course, Scott’s best work involves stories with immediate hooks, and “The Martian” certainly offers plenty.
The Martian will screen four more times during TIFF.
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The Martian will land in theaters October 2, 2015.
