'The Martian'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan science the sh*t out of this episode after revisiting the 2015 hit 'The Martian,' starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Cast
Matt Damon as Mark Watney
Jessica Chastain as Commander Lewis
Jeff Daniels as Teddy Sanders
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Vincent Kapoor
Michael Pena as Rick Martinez
Sean Bean as Mitch Henderson
Kristen Wiig as Annie Montrose
Kate Mara as Beth Johanssen
Donald Glover as Rich Purnell
Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park
Benedict Wong as Bruce Ng
Sebastian Stan as Chris Beck
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: Drew Goddard
Notes
- $108 million budget, grossed $630 million worldwide.
- 7 Oscar nominations, won 0 – 'Spotlight' won Best Picture that year.
- Won the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy – category fraud so egregious they changed the rules after.
- Drew Goddard was originally set to direct before Ridley Scott took over.
- Matt Damon filmed his solo scenes for five straight weeks.
- A real potato farm was installed on the studio lot with potatoes at all stages of growth.
- Described as 'an incredible relic of the Obama era' – faith in government institutions, US-China collaboration, valuing science.
- Ridley Scott has an iconic movie in five decades: Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, 'Gladiator', 'The Martian'.
- Nobody dies in the movie – possibly a record for a sci-fi film.
- 'The Martian' came at a really important time in Damon's career after a rough 2008-2014 stretch.
Categories
- The rescue scene – 'I got it, I got it, I got it' (Bill's pick).
- Donald Glover explaining the Rich Purnell maneuver with the stapler (Van's pick).
- The early farming/making water/rations sequence (Chris's pick).
- The David Bowie 'Starman' montage.
- 'So yeah, I blew myself up' – the explosion/deadpan monologue.
- Sean Bean's performance – the only character who expresses real anger.
- Growing the potatoes using crew's bio-waste as fertilizer.
- Chastain's love for 70s disco music as a plot device.
- Duct tape used heroically (not for kidnapping for once).
- China helping the US – feels very different given geopolitical changes since 2015.
- The Golden Globe category fraud – won Best Musical or Comedy.
- Kristen Wiig – tonal mistake; doesn't have the register for dramatic scenes with Sean Bean and Jeff Daniels.
- The sense that a government agency would feel compelled to level with the American public.
- Cate Blanchett was the original choice for Commander Lewis but had a scheduling conflict.
- Drew Goddard was supposed to direct, not Ridley Scott.
Donald Glover – unanimously; his caffeinated, manic energy in limited scenes.
Benedict Wong – 'whenever I see him now in anything, I just... he's the guy from The Martian'.
Donald Glover – 'clearly got the script and said I'm only in four scenes, I'm going for it.' Won both over-acting and heat-check in a rare double.
- Kerry Washington or Kate Winslet instead of Kristen Wiig.
- Ed Harris as Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels' role) – group consensus.
- Tom Hanks as Teddy Sanders also mentioned.
- Filmed in Jordan and Hungary (famous giant sound stage in Hungary).
- NASA assisted the filmmakers with science and technology.
- A real potato farm was installed on the studio lot.
- Andy Weir said the story was set in 2035.
- Matt Damon – strong case but no; his apex is probably the first Bourne movie. This is 'Post-Apex Mountain Apex'.
- Potatoes – yes (Chris's pick).
- Botany – definitely.
- Mars – debated; 'Total Recall' might beat it.
- Duct tape – comeback mountain.
- Martian soil has since been found to be toxic to both plant and animal life.
- The opening storm is the biggest scientific inaccuracy – atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low it would feel like a light breeze.
- Damon should have lost more weight (Ridley Scott wouldn't let him after his Courage Under Fire experience).
- Donald Glover's plan still doesn't totally make sense even after 5 rewatches.
Please no – emphatically against it.
- Where was Mark Watney's family? No backstory at all.
- Does Watney immediately hit the dating pool when he returns, or does he need five years?
- Is this the only sci-fi movie ever where nobody dies?
Matt Damon – unanimously.