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The Martian is a cinematic masterpiece and a return to form for one of my favorite directors, Ridley Scott (in fact this is actually the highest ranked film of his on the list, though I would say his best film is either Alien or Blade Runner). Based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the film follows the story of Mark Watney, a botanist who is left stranded on Mars after being presumed dead as a result of a Martian storm, and his attempt to survive long enough to make contact with NASA and return home.
This is the film I felt deserved the Oscar for best picture this year (followed narrowly by Mad Max: Fury Road, Ex Machina, and The Revenant, in that order), I believe this is one of the best science fiction films to come out in a very long time. Part of what makes the film so great is that it stays very grounded and believable. It feels like it could have been based on a true story (I imagine this is in part because it adapts a very good meticulously crafted novel), even though it obviously is not.
Interestingly enough in many ways this film is basically the same premise as the Revenant but approaches it in the completely opposite way. Both are survival films based on a man presumed dead forced to survive on his own in a harsh environment. The Revenant takes this premise and focuses on the hardship of isolation and of survival and the wrath of nature. The Martian takes a more optimistic approach, focusing on the power of cooperation and human ingenuity to overcome and achieve in the face of overwhelming challenges. Both work to great success however the Martian's approach appealed to me more and I feel like they executed just a bit better (narratively The Martian is far better paced and cohesive than the slow building, somewhat over-long Revenant).
The film is also incredibly fun and entertaining without ever feeling too light for the context of the situation. I've watched the film 4 times now since it's release and it never gets old. The camera work is brilliant and really brings the Red Planet to life like we've never seen before on screen. The performances are also great, featuring standout performances from a star studded cast including Matt Damon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, and Jessica Chastain. However it was Donald Glover's small role that stole the film for me.
In my opinion, the best film of 2015, the Martian was a sci-fi masterpiece and a sign that Ridley Scott is back on his game again, which is great for everyone.
14. The Martian
The Martian is a cinematic masterpiece and a return to form for one of my favorite directors, Ridley Scott (in fact this is actually the highest ranked film of his on the list, though I would say his best film is either Alien or Blade Runner). Based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the film follows the story of Mark Watney, a botanist who is left stranded on Mars after being presumed dead as a result of a Martian storm, and his attempt to survive long enough to make contact with NASA and return home.
This is the film I felt deserved the Oscar for best picture this year (followed narrowly by Mad Max: Fury Road, Ex Machina, and The Revenant, in that order), I believe this is one of the best science fiction films to come out in a very long time. Part of what makes the film so great is that it stays very grounded and believable. It feels like it could have been based on a true story (I imagine this is in part because it adapts a very good meticulously crafted novel), even though it obviously is not.
Interestingly enough in many ways this film is basically the same premise as the Revenant but approaches it in the completely opposite way. Both are survival films based on a man presumed dead forced to survive on his own in a harsh environment. The Revenant takes this premise and focuses on the hardship of isolation and of survival and the wrath of nature. The Martian takes a more optimistic approach, focusing on the power of cooperation and human ingenuity to overcome and achieve in the face of overwhelming challenges. Both work to great success however the Martian's approach appealed to me more and I feel like they executed just a bit better (narratively The Martian is far better paced and cohesive than the slow building, somewhat over-long Revenant).
The film is also incredibly fun and entertaining without ever feeling too light for the context of the situation. I've watched the film 4 times now since it's release and it never gets old. The camera work is brilliant and really brings the Red Planet to life like we've never seen before on screen. The performances are also great, featuring standout performances from a star studded cast including Matt Damon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, and Jessica Chastain. However it was Donald Glover's small role that stole the film for me.
In my opinion, the best film of 2015, the Martian was a sci-fi masterpiece and a sign that Ridley Scott is back on his game again, which is great for everyone.