The Martian [2015]

Language - English
Director - Ridley Scott
Run Time - 2 hours, 21 minutes
Genre - Drama/Sci-Fi
Starring - Matt Damon, Kristin Wiig, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara and Chiwetel Ejiofor

With such a star-studded cast, one can barely go wrong. (Remember Expendables, Valentine's Day, The Counselor). And you have Ridley Scott as the director. This film had success written all over it.

A great story (everyone loves a hero story), coupled with some phenomenal actors, and brilliant cinematography and we have our masterpiece. One thing that was mediocre was the background score. You cannot have a science fiction movie without a good background score. It was lacking half the times and the other half seemed like it had been picked up from the soundtrack of Interstellar. Well, all can't be Hans Zimmer.

The Martian, based upon the best-selling novel of the same name, tells us the story of Mark Whitney [Damon], who's left behind upon a mission to mars as he was presumed dead. Now all alone on this planet he must find means to survive and somehow alert NASA that he is still alive. How will NASA bring back America's hero?

One may try to compare The Martian with the previous year's space saga, 'Interstellar'; but I ask why? They are completely different and amazing movies and should be left at that. Genius director Christopher Nolan's Interstellar made us think while Ridley Scott's Martian makes us hope. Hope for our hero to survive.

Although not suspenseful, but it was certainly not predictable. Our hero, Mark Whitney's tale sure had its share of ups and downs. Another thing that worked for the movie was the dialogues. The quips and quirks sure added some flavor to what otherwise would have been a pretty mundane movie.

I was a bit sad to see the other actors to receive such less screen time considering the tremendous talent and pedigree they hold to their names.

But Kudos to Ridley Scott and Matt Damon to deliver us one of the smartest, simplest and most satisfying film of the year.

My Rating - 8.8/10