The Martian

Released 30th September 2015, The Martian follows Astronaut Mark Watney as he fights to survive on Mars while Nasa equally fight to bring him home. A great ode to the film’s success is that (for the first two acts) it is able to deliver its narrative in a realistic manner with plausible processes and technobabble. This setting grants strength to the film’s themes of survival, determination and hope: themes that are strong enough to persevere through frequent comedic moments. Unlike many modern comedies, The Martian has a very laid back sense of humour which arises through the circumstances of the character, not the script; this is made all the more apparent by the vastness of the cast and how different everyone is.

While the size of the cast prevents many characters receiving great depth, they all serve their purpose and this film receives a pass as the narrative stresses that it is a race against time to save Watney hence reducing the necessity for depth. Donald Glover, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejifor, Mackenzie Davis, Sean Bean and Kristen Wiig do a good enough job as the Earth-based crew at Nasa. Everyone is able to demonstrate unique quirks and offer something different to the table. Jessica Chastain, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan and Aksel Hennie also do a great job as Mark’s crewmates who had to leave him on Mars. This portion of the cast are able to indulge in elements of grief and blame towards their actions while also reflected the comradery of the crew to the audience.

Then there is Mark Watney himself, Matt Damon; Damon’s performance is far from a career best but he gives a solid range of emotion through the film with relatable nuances and aforementioned comedic timing. Being set in space, there are a greater emphasis on visual effects throughout the film; these effects do not seem to falter at any point and deliver Mars’ scale particularly well. While sufficient in underscoring many scenes, the soundtrack is generally unmemorable. Overall The Martian is a perfectly serviceable film with an enjoyable, star-studded cast, good visuals and enough comedy to prevent the third act from seeming as scientifically bonkers as it is.