Watney & Me: Celebrating The 10th Anniversary Of 'The Martian'

TV & Film

Oct 5

“In space, no one can hear you scream.” This one simple sentence was the tagline for Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic sci-fi horror film, Alien. Since that film, Ridley Scott has remained one of the most respected and financially successful directors of all time. Since the 1970s, Scott has helmed some of the most beloved and influential films ever made, ranging from genre classics such as Blade Runner to acclaimed dramas like Thelma & Louise, as well as costume epics like Gladiator. Of course, if you work in film long enough, not everything you make will be a winner. After the release of Black Hawk Down in 2001, Scott’s filmography has consisted of films that critics, audiences, and film fans either loved with all their hearts or despised with a fiery passion, with very few seeing any middle ground. Some have fared better, such as Kingdom of Heaven, American Gangster, All the Money in the World, and Gladiator II. Others are considered to be in the bottom tier of Scott’s filmography, such as Body of Lies, Robin Hood, The Counselor, and Exodus: Gods and Kings. Then you have his truly divisive works, including Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, The Last Duel, House of Gucci, and Napoleon. Needless to say, the last 25 years of Ridley Scott’s career have been a major rollercoaster, experiencing different periods of critical and financial success and failure one film after the other. The common consensus amongst film enthusiasts is that Scott hasn’t directed a classic that stands alongside Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, and Gladiator. That is, except for one.

In 2011, author Andy Weir self-published his most well-known novel, The Martian. After being re-released by a major publishing house in 2014, the book received highly positive reviews, primarily for Weir’s balance of scientific accuracy and humor. 20th Century Fox optioned the film rights in 2013, with Drew Goddar being hired to write the film’s screenplay. Goddard is an accomplished writer in his own right, having worked on TV series created by Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, as well as movies such as Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield. Hot off the success of his directorial debut, The Cabin in the Woods, Goddard was originally going to direct The Martian as well, only to decline in favor of writing and directing a Sinister Six movie for Sony Pictures. Before Goddard switched gears, Matt Damon had already expressed interest in playing the film’s lead. Producer Simon Kinberg showed the screenplay and the novel to Ridley Scott, and after that, the rest is history. The film adaptation of The Martian received critical acclaim upon release, garnering praise for its performances (particularly Matt Damon’s), Scott’s direction, Goddard’s screenplay, and Harry Gregson-Williams’ musical score. Grossing $630 million and becoming Scott’s highest-grossing film doesn’t hurt either. Being named one of the best movies of 2015 by multiple publications, the film received seven nominations at the 88th Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Goddard, Best Actor for Matt Damon, and Best Picture. While it didn’t win any Oscars, the film won two Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Matt Damon. Its inclusion in these categories remains a source of humor amongst film fans to this day. Despite that, just this year, the Reader’s Choice edition of The New York Times ‘ 100 Greatest Movies of the 21st Century list, The Martian, placed as an honorable mention at #174.

But why is it that the triumphant story of Mark Watney’s return to Earth has remained a modern sci-fi classic 10 years later? Let’s find out!

RELATED:

Featured

30 Years Of Different Takes On Gregory Maguire's 'Wicked'

If you’re somehow one of the few people on this planet who hasn’t seen The Martian, the plot is as follows: Mark Watney, a skilled botanist and mechanical engineer, is stranded on Mars after a mission goes awry. After his crew and NASA declare him dead, they’re shocked to find out that not only is Mark alive, but there’s a chance to actually save him. The premise is as simple as it is effective. Following Weir’s novel closely, Drew Goddard and Ridley Scott effectively provide the audience with enough drama to chew on without being overly self-serious, a term often used to describe much of Scott’s recent work.

While The Martian may not give you panic attacks like Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity or make you cry like a baby like Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, The Martian is more than just Cast Away in space. Much of the film’s heart, excitement, and humor comes from the character of Mark Watney. Aside from the opening and the climax, Watney spends 98% of his screentime alone. He spends most of his time talking to us, the viewers. Thanks to Ridley Scott’s careful direction, he immerses us in the world of the film where we are now, like the characters in the film, actively rooting for Mark to return home. Watney’s general likability and skill make him an engaging character to follow, while Matt Damon is more than talented enough to carry most of the movie on his shoulders.

Not to say he’s the only performer giving it his all, as Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Jeff Daniels are also giving award-worthy performances of their own. Even Donald Glover, in his brief but highly memorable appearance as Rich Purnell, is firing on all cylinders. Goddard’s screenplay, like the novel, includes a lot, and I mean A LOT, of scientific wibbly wobbly timey wimey technobabble that could easily intimidate and bore the audience if you’re not careful. Amidst Mark’s diatribes about plant growth, anxieties about survival, and his dislike of disco music, we’re treated to genuinely personal and human scenes with Mark simply trying his best as he slowly loses hope that he’ll survive. To put it bluntly, Mark Watney is in this for the love of the game, even when he believes he’ll die soon.

It’s not just the work of Scott, Damon, and Goddard that make the film as immersive and as engaging as it is. It’s also due to cinematographer Daruisz Wolski, production designer and set decorator Arthur Max and Celia Bobak, editor Pietro Scalia, and composer Harry Gregson-Williams. All these technical aspects, in addition to the creative ones, help make The Martian feel lived-in. Every frame feels like it’s meant to bring you one step closer to the world of the characters. Whether we’re at NASA headquarters, Times Square, or Mars, you might as well actually be in the film.

At its core, The Martian is a story about isolation and perseverance. Whether it’s Mark learning how to grow crops on Mars or his team finding a way to bring him back to Earth, the film is infused with a constant spirit of triumph and effort. It would’ve been easy for The Martian to come off as a smug, rah-rah America can do it that was full of itself. It would’ve been easy for Mark Watney to come off as annoying and douchey. Instead, the film is a brilliant story about the importance of keeping hope alive. A lesson that everyone needs more of in their life. More hopeful and heartfelt than Ridley Scott’s usual brand of filmmaking, that’s what makes The Martian one of his best films to date.

As we approach Phil Lord & Chris Miller’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s other acclaimed opus, Project Hail Mary, The Martian is a brilliant showcase of what sci-fi drama can be at its best. It’s honestly a shame that studios don’t invest more into movies like this. The Martian isn’t much concerned with flashy action and quippy dialogue. Instead, it's more interested in telling an emotionally intelligent story that is meant to uplift the audience in addition to entertaining them. That’s what science fiction can accomplish when the storytellers have a point to make without beating the audience’s heads with it. Sometimes, loneliness can be the ultimate mindkiller. Some days it feels like the universe is too big and too cruel to keep facing it. We may not know what it’s like to be stranded on Mars, but sometimes we can be stranded in our own sadness. That’s why it’s important to find hope in the people who care about us, and it’s good to return the favor when those you care about feel stranded as well.

We may not science the shit out of our challenges in life, but we can sure as hell try to.

READ NEXT:

Featured