The Martian

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The Good:

I thoroughly loved The Martian. We live in an era where the "cool" thing to do in sci-fi space movies is to make them grim and foreboding. (I'm looking at you, Interstellar, Moon, Prometheus, Disctrict 9, Elysium) The refreshing thing about this movie is that it is propelled by optimism and positive energy. These days, that makes it unique. Why do people assume that a movie with integrity has to be so dark? When did an optimistic perspective become the bold choice? I thought the levity was more realistic.

Matt Damon is the real shining star here with a detailed and competent performance as Mark Watney. The Best Actor nomination is well deserved and this is a world-class performance. The rest of the cast is wonderful, too. Kristen Wiig has a small-ish part but it's something different for her. Jeff Daniels is wonderful and memorable as Teddy Sanders, a man with conflicting interests and mountains of pressure. I always love Jessica Chastain and she's probably my favorite actress.

The running time of 2:14 goes quickly, and there are some real moments of suspense. There's also heartbreak, joy, and humor. I also never felt like I was watching special effects because they're so seamlessly integrated. It's quite an accomplishment.

The Bad:

 The ending kind of plays it safe. (no spoilers) At times, the suspension of disbelief is spread a bit too thin and the premises flirt with absurdity.

Conclusion:

If you haven't seen it, see it! If you've already seen it, see it again!

The Martian was nominated for a handful of Oscars. Visual Effects, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Production Design, Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Matt Damon), and the big one...Best Picture.


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