

The director may have earned a justified reputation as a “world-building visionary”, but his audiences always demand a good story and that’s exactly what they’ve got here. From the creative back and forth of Hampton Fancher and David Peoples on Blade Runner, through the genius of Callie Khouri’s Thelma and Louise screenplay, to this terrifically crowd-pleasing adaptation of Andy Weir’s book by The Cabin in the Woods creator Drew Goddard, Scott’s greatest debt has always been to his writers. Scott may not have the best eye for a decent script (he thought A Good Year read like a charming Russell Crowe vehicle), but when the right words are on the page he can visualise them like no other. “Mars will come to fear my botany powers,” Watney exclaims at one point during the film.īut it’s more than just Damon’s charm that makes The Martian work. The sci-fi flick benefits from the extremely smart writing by Drew Goddard, the excellent direction by Ridley Scott, and perhaps most of all, just a fantastic ensemble of actors who give Damon a boost with their own great performances.īy mixing comedic elements into this action space thriller, The Martian allows Damon to show off all of his best skills from his acting toolbox, making for one of his most entertaining big screen roles in years.P roving conclusively that it really is all about the writing, Ridley Scott’s most enjoyable film in years reassures us that the creakiness of Prometheus, the cack-handed contrivance of The Counsellor and the sheer stodginess of Exodus: Gods and Kings were genetically rooted in their respective screenplays.
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When it comes to The Martian, it may be the perfect movie for Damon because it fuses all of these different aspects into one role, allowing him to showcase his full range as an actor.ĭespite being a science geek, Damon’s character comes off as both cool and hilarious as he uses his botany skills to come up with solutions for his precarious predicament. Of course Damon’s character is sly and cool as he’s robbing casinos, yet he never loses his laugh inducing charm. Yes, his character gets into a lot of gun-toting action thrills, but Damon also comes across as witty and humorous, making his hard-to-love dirty cop that much easier to watch on screen.Īnother example would be his role as Linus Caldwell in the Ocean’s series. Take, for instance, his turn as Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan in The Departed.


That’s not to say that he can’t do straight drama, but some of his most memorable roles also brought the laughs. While Damon has made a name for himself with roles like the charming, smart guy à la Good Will Hunting, or the badass bruiser like his character in the Bourne film series, he’s truly at his best when he’s allowed to show off his comedic side. The ’70s era, throwback soundtrack also gives the film a hint of Guardians of the Galaxy flavor, further showing the importance of humor to this Robinson-Crusoe-in-space story. Rather, The Martian balances its stunning space visuals and interpersonal drama with just the right amount of comedy, making it both a fun and entertaining cinematic journey. The film doesn’t beat audiences over the head with complicated, scientific theory, nor does it lead viewers down a philosophical rabbit hole with Matthew McConaughey-style musings. Photo by Giles Keyte / Twentieth Century Fox
