Vertigo

Vertigo
Vertigo

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Surviving THE MARTIAN



 
You might wonder why Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain would do another major scifi space film so soon after Interstellar. Maybe it was the great story based on a best selling novel. Abetted by a very strong ensemble cast (including Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Kate Mara) and under the kinder, gentler hand of director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Black Hawk Down), The Martian is a compelling tale of survival and human spirit. (Yes, it is almost the flipside of Gravity.)  Matt Damon shines in a role that is demanding physically and emotionally as the ill-fated astronaut marooned on Mars who must find resourceful ways to grow food and much more.  (You will never look at a new plant the same way again.)

What sets this apart from others is its sheer goodwill in emphasizing the intelligence and ingenuity of experts who want to do right. There are also no villains here, and that in itself is refreshing.  The filmmakers have also painstakingly made this film scientifically plausible.  Scott has previously made two of the greatest scifi movies, Alien and Blade Runner.  With this, he has perfected the trifecta. 

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