Neighbor News
Movie Review - The Martian
In space, no one can hear you talk, much less scream - especially if they think you're dead
The Martian ***½ (out of 5) (PG-13) Poor Matt Damon. He seems like such a good guy that one wonders why he keeps getting stranded in outer space? His supporting role in Interstellar as one presumed long dead on a remote little planet turned out to be a warmup for this leading turn as a Mars explorer presumed dead in a sudden storm who amazingly survives on his own for much longer than anyone could have imagined. It’s the Tom Hanks role in Cast Away, but without water, oxygen or a volleyball to anthropomorphize. The last of these seems fine, since Damon’s wife’s last name (Barroso) doesn’t lend itself as well to that purpose as Rita Wilson’s did for Hanks.
This film has received plenty of hype, much of which is warranted. The visuals are top-of-the-line. 3-D is a plus, but not essential. Houses with bigger screens and updated sound are strongly recommended. The script includes more moments of comic relief than the premise seems likely to offer. Damon carries most of the weight as we watch him create life-support systems beyond anyone’s expectations while maintaining a video journal of his ordeal. He’s unable to communicate with Earth for a long time. Even once they learn he’s alive, rescue is incredibly difficult...or worse.
Space buffs will be thrilled not only with the plot, but with the science. For those less tech-oriented (like yours truly), the brainiac elements are much easier to comprehend than whatever the hell they were yammering about in Damon’s aforementioned journey to the cosmos. The juggling of conflicted elements - our innate yearning for knowledge, national and global politics, public relations, budgets seems realistic and reflective of the panoply of today’s challenges facing NASA and all other entities trying to boldly go... This film honors them all in an entertaining package. (10/2/15)