Those who’ve been reading my thoughts might remember my urging—my insistence—to read Andy Weir’s The Martian when I wrote about it exactly six months ago today. And I know that many of you heeded that advice. Loved it, yes? 😉
And today—-finally. It’s Fall. And the movie is in wide release. Yay!
First, biggest of thanks to my dear friend for first getting me to read the book. MMG, you were SO right. Seriously, people, Go. Read. The. Book. (No, really. This movie will surely be in the theaters for a while. Read the book this weekend. Go see the movie next.)
Second, biggest thanks too to another dear friend for indulging my, how did he put it? “Childlike enthusiasm akin to Trekkies or Starwars geeks lined outside at a theater” at seeing the movie. 😉 Yes, he and I went last night, technically the night before it opened. And yes, I loved it.
Matt Damon (ladies, yes, he’s been working out (and yes, there are scenes where the spacesuit is removed to reveal some of that work he’s been putting in)) owns this role. Okay, so I could be giving him too much credit. I have to admit that I read the book using his voice, so it was natural for him to *be* Mark Watney to me. But I really do believe that even without the book, he owns this. I must add too, though, the actor cannot be better than his material. And my favorite parts were the fab lines I knew to be coming. (e.g., “I’m going to have to science the shit out of this.” and “In your face, Neil Armstrong”) (Apologies to my movie companion if my excitement over those lines was distracting.) But Damon delivered these perfectly. His swings of emotion showed on his face and his body. I put his performance far above Depp’s in Black Mass.
Then again, that might be actor bias on my part; I can admit that. 😉
Oh, so you didn’t read the book? Here’s my too-brief synopsis of The Maritan: it’s about a botanist mechanical engineer astronaut who is stranded on Mars and must figure out how to survive, without communication with NASA, while he waits the years before the next mission to Mars is due.
Ah, so that’s what I wrote about the book. Although the movie does a good job at staying relatively true to the book, some things are left out. Like the mechanical engineering part. Or the dual-specialty part. Or the — to me — most intense part of the book, Watney’s journey across the planet. And a thing or two is added. Thank goodness Hollywood didn’t get too carried away with what’s added. But for me, it wasn’t necessary. Then again, I read the book.
And that makes me wonder what the newcomers think of the film. Does it entertain as much if you aren’t already tied to this character? Are his lines as funny heard the first time versus being read in that context? I think the science was very much tuned down for the film, but I get that. Too much talk of those things, and I might have drifted off. (Not that I ever did so with the book….but I didn’t read the book in a dark room (in a recliner. AMC, you’re stealing me away from my indie theater house for big films!).) But I worry that the *best* parts of the book—-those inner thoughts and understanding the huge complexity of what Watney does is lost in the movie in music-over scenes.
Speaking of science…..It’s kinda funny: my inner logical science/math geek absolutely was on the edge of my seat with this movie, adoring every nerdy biology-focused (botany was my least fave class for my biology minor in college, so I have to refuse to give that the nod it richly deserves here), equation-driven, chemical component. But even though my brain has that huge force, my emotional side has always has won out in my life’s passions—-although pushed hard by teachers, I abandoned my math major for psych. I worked the psych field for years. In law, I am drawn to any aspect that has the human interaction. I’m the antithesis of the stereotypical science-type. (By the way, I *loved* Donald Glover (Community) as Rich Purnell here, speaking of stereotypical science-types.) Still, I revel at the science geeks being the winners in this film.
And speaking of that, the supporting cast is spot on. Jeff Daniels delivers a wonderful performance to me as NASA chief. I delighted seeing Kristin Wig in a completely different role. The same for Chiwetelu Ejoifor: he gets to show a wholly different side of his beautiful talent in this film. It wasn’t until the end of the film I placed Mackenzie Davis (whom I knew from Halt and Catch Fire). She was good here. I hope she stays in movies. Now, all that said, the crew members of Watney’s mission, well, they felt like cheap wall art—-pretty to look past if you’re just passing through, but lacking in depth and meaning. That may be a product of the addition to the story Hollywood made—and the missing elements Hollywood took away. Either way, none of them were beyond ordinary.
Okay, so that’s a lot of info. I do recommend the movie. If you read the book, I think you’ll love it in spite of the differences. And I can admit that the five stars I give are a lingering effect of the book. I just cannot separate myself enough from that to know if it’d still be five stars otherwise (probably not, but I know it’d be a solid four). If you didn’t read the book, I think you’ll be entertained. The movie has intense moments. It has suspense and drama, and more so, wit and smarts. Watney might need to “science the shit out of this,” but while he does, Matt Damon lays on the charm in bringing Watney’s character to the big screen, and he delights all the way through.
Add this to your list. And enjoy. 🙂
Note One: I wonder if Andy Weir foresaw the screenplay adaptation of his novel and thus set Lewis’s musical preference accordingly. If he did: brilliance. It was perfect.
Note Two: If you, like me, enjoy a glass of vino before the movie and then, in error, fail to use the facilities before entering the theater *and* partake in a Blue Moon-esque beverage for the flick, well, in case you *don’t * have the RunGoPee app, I’ll tell ya here: go when David Bowie’s Starman plays. It’s a long sequence of music and no dialogue. You can piece together what you miss.
Note Three: Speaking of music, I can name that tune in two notes. Yes, I loudly laughed at the very end, about two notes into the final song as the credits begin. Two notes in, I knew the song, and I LOVED the tie. I, alone, laughed out loud (until about five seconds later). That, like so many other parts of the film, was genius.