A Martian on Earth, a Botanist on Mars
“I’m going to have to science the shit out of this.” If you ever find yourself stranded alone on a planet that could easily kill you, follow in the footsteps of Mark Watney (Matt Damon) and use your botany skills to get you out of there. Now, this is not realistic at all. But in the Oscar-nominated film The Martian, the main character does in fact find himself left alone on Mars after his team leaves him behind, believing him to be dead. With a majority of the scenes featuring Damon’s character alone, doing whatever it is he needs to be doing in order to stay alive, it’s a testament to his acting skills, coincided with the supreme script.
Previously known for movies such as Jason Bourne, Interstellar, The Monument’s Men, and We Bought a Zoo, Matt Damon has created a solid foundation for his film career. The Martian is a riveting film that, in my opinion, has topped his personal records when it comes to raw acting talent. He exhibits the ability to portray a character that many people can relate to, even though the situation he is in is extremely unrealistic. His use of variation in voice and facial expressions almost makes it seem as though his character could be anyone’s friend, and Damon seemed completely at ease in this role. In previous films, his character may have been stoic, harsh, and handled intense situations inwardly by keeping all their thoughts to themselves. In the Bourne films, this is exactly who he played; a man who was facing extreme odds, and had to fight to survive. But in The Martian, Damon’s character is completely alone and vocalizes all of his inner monologues to the computer screen, giving the audience a look into the life of Mark Watney. It’s comedic, and it sometimes even distracts from the severity of the situation his character is caught up in. Damon, though most of his scenes are simply him alone, possibly connecting with other people through technology, enacts the script and actually makes it seem as though he isn’t alone. His optimistic persona gives the entire experience a different feel than what you would expect, by giving us a look into how a more positive outlook on life can truly get you out of any terrifying and life-threatening situation.
One of the things that was necessary in order for Damon to even do his job was the written script for the film, and that in itself was a valiant work. The script victoriously grapples between authoritative conversations and amusing monologues, so it truly is the perfect balance and representation of trying to make the best out of an extremely precarious situation. For example, the film may switch from a very intellectual conversation between NASA employees about space travel, straight to Damon’s character telling himself things such as, “They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially colonized it. So, technically, I colonized Mars. In your face, Neil Armstrong!” This provides a relief from the intensity of the film, and I think it makes it much easier to appreciate everything the characters are going through. It shows the more intense, high-stakes side that NASA has taken on, to the side that Watney is stuck on, trying to stay sane while also staying alive. Right along-side the script, working together with it as always, it the work of the camera crew and all of the thought that goes into how a scene is going to be visually seen. For example, in almost every part of the movie that involves the director of NASA, he can be viewed in some sort of angle, proving his importance by making sure that the viewers can always see him. Another instance that the camera work has a specific purpose is the final scene in the film, where, without giving too much away, the camera wants to focus on Watney. It’s a nail-biting situation, and every time the camera does in fact come away from Watney, the viewer feels as though the situation is spiraling even more out of control. Then, when the camera returns to Watney, it seems as though the goal is closer to being accomplished. This choice of cinematography is effective in having complete control over how the audience is going to interpret and understand a certain scene, and I believe that that in itself is captivating.
The Martian held my attention from the moment I sat down to the moment I got up, shakenly, to leave the theater. Sure, it’s story is enrapturing and crazy to just think about, but the film itself is so well put together, I’m surprised it didn’t actually win any of the Oscars it was nominated for. All of the well-known actors in this film (including Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, and more), come together to create a masterpiece creation that tells of perseverance, resilience, and sometimes pure luck in the face of nearly impossible odds. I would recommend this film to everyone I know, as after watching it you can have a newfound knowledge of positivity in the most negative of times; and that is something I think anyone can find value in.
