Ridley Scott’s Napoleon failed to impress critics and viewers, collecting only $190 million against its $200 million budget so far. It will soon come out on the Apple TV+ streaming platform, where it will gain significant viewership. But it does not mean that Scott is not a great director. He has helmed numerous outstanding flicks in his iconic career, such as Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1992), Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), American Gangster (2007), and more. One of them is The Martian (2015), starring Matt Damon.
The Martian revolves around astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who gets stranded on Mars after his mission goes horribly wrong, separating him from his teammates. But he uses his intelligence to survive on the harsh conditions of Mars. Soon, he grows food on that planet and establishes communication with NASA. The film showcases his journey of resilience and will to survive while serving as a perfect blend of comedy and science.
One of the things that The Martian excels in is its commitment to scientific accuracy, which is rarely seen in Hollywood movies unless it’s a Christopher Nolan film. Matt Damon also gives a committed and compelling performance as Mark Watney. Other things, such as Ridley Scott’s direction, themes, and stunning cinematography, are praiseworthy.
The film has also received acclaim from critics, currently having a ‘fresh’ Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%, based on 383 reviews.
Ridley Scott’s The Martian is available on Disney+ Hotstar. It stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, Donald Glover, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and more.