"The Martian": Matt Damon stuck in space part 2
This past weekend, "The Martian" released nationwide. Based on the book by first time novelist Andy Weir, the film focuses on astronaut Mark Watney and his struggle to survive when abandoned on mars and NASA's mission to save him. The novel initially garnered attention for both its incredible story and accurate use of science and space technology. The author, a self-proclaimed 'space dork,' performed all the research and calculations in the novel.
Because Weir did the math to tell his story, I figured I would follow suit and devise an equation to describe "The Martian."
X= Director Ridley Scott
Y = An incredible supporting cast including Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Benedict Wong, Michael Peña, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig and Donald Glover
As a science major, I absolutely loved the film's accuracy. Too often the sci-fi genre is reduced to a vehicle for action flicks. Rather than intriguing 'what if' scenarios, we get aliens, techno-babble, and a ton of blue explosions. "The Martian" may not use the genre to create new worlds or present a philosophical point, but it is incredibly satisfying to see a film where everything is grounded in real theories and technology.
While "Interstellar" (which also featured Matt Damon as a stranded space explorer along with Jessica Chastain) went big by depicting a small crew that twist time and space to try to save all of humanity, "The Martian" grounds itself in the struggle of one man and an entire planet fighting to bring him home. Both are incredible, but while Christopher Nolan uses big ideas to add his trademark cerebral punch, "The Martian" keeps a singular focus that pulls the audience in and never lets up.
Many films dealing with isolation and abandonment put an emphasis on despair. What sets "The Martian" apart isn't necessarily optimism; no one in the film has an expectation that everything will be okay. What they do have is a fierce determination to succeed. They know exactly how ridiculous the odds are, but are willing to do absolutely everything to succeed ' whether that means whipping around planets to gain speed, burning jet fuel to produce water, or sleeping next to nuclear waste to keep warm.
There is a lot that "The Martian" does right. It builds tension expertly, drops jokes consistently without feeling forced, and gets the audience fully invested in its stakes. Among all that it gets right, I think its biggest strength is that it is just plain fun. "The Martian" is what I wish every blockbuster movie could be; a great story that is accessible to many people, but made with a passion and perfection that elevates it well above the routine.
