Life on Mars

Space is a huge expanse of unexplored place but NASA has that which they can explore in their sights. The plans to put people on Mars in the 2030s is well underway but perhaps today's film will provide some ideas of what to expect when they get there. This is The Martian.

When a terrible storm on the surface of Mars threatens the first manned mission to the planet, the team of astronauts prepare to jet off home. As the storm hits, the team are outside and a piece of debris hits the team's botanist, Mark Watney (Matt Damon). Losing him in the low visibility and believing him to be dead, the remaining four team members take off to return to Earth. The next Sol (or day in Layman's terms), Watney wakes up to find himself alone in the red deserts of Mars, wounded but alive. His only option in order to survive? Well in his own words, he is going to 'have to science the shit out of this'.

It is no surprise, in a film about one man stranded alone away from humanity, that this is Matt Damon's movie. He is the source of all the comedy (bar one prat fall from Donald Glover) as well as the emotional heart. Whilst the supporting cast consists of a strong ensemble (Jessica Chastain, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, and many others), they never detract from Damon's performance. This being said, often their roles are limited to staring at computer screens and responding emotionally, so as far as that is concerned, they are exceptional.

The Martian, which was dubiously dubbed as a comedy at the Golden Globes, is a smart and emotional film that is as funny as it is thoughtful. It raises questions of morality and ethics, whilst also making jokes about using human faeces as fertiliser. As well as a solid screenplay, The Martian also boasts some gorgeous camera work that turns the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan into a gloriously beautiful Martian landscape. However, at just under two and a half hours, the film runs for just a little bit too long. The middle section begins to drag as the only communication between Earth and Mars is through written text on a computer; the characters read aloud as they type and then again as they receive messages*. Similarly, the end of the film goes on for a long while with drawn out obstacles and plenty of unnecessary shots that add little to the overall narrative.

The film is grounded by the optimism of Damon's Watney; it keeps it real. Ridley Scott's film does not fall into the isolated paranoia of Moon nor into the fantasticism of similar sci-fi movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey or Interstellar but instead remains cheerful, funny, and full of hope. There is a human element at the core of this space drama which is all too often awkwardly handled or overlooked in science fiction (just look at that 'Love and Gravity' scene in Interstellar). In many ways, The Martian succeeds where others in the genre have failed, but it also lacks the grand, epic nature that keeps the audience engaged for two and a half hours.

A fun and enjoyable film, if not a little too long. The many obstacles that face Watney are slowly deminished by the predictibly accurate optimism of the characters, but this does not divert from the quality that The Martian displays. A rare feel good, easy to watch sci-fi which is a welcome addition to an all too often glum and complex genre.

Best Bit? In order to grow potatoes, Watney needs water. To make water, Watney needs to use all of his science knowledge in a brilliant little segment which demonstrates the dangers of fire in space.

*Every Frame a Painting, an excellent channel on youtube, discuss this issue in film in more detail here:

Big Screen Secret Life

Comic actors have been known to switch their style over their careers and sometimes that can be a big change - whether it is taking on more serious roles like Jonah Hill in Moneyball or directorial positions like Zach Braff with Garden State (and the upcoming Wish I Was Here). Today’s film is directed by and stars a big comic actor playing a serious role. This is The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a normal man. A normal man with a normal job working with the negative rolls of photos for Life Magazine. He spends his time zoning out and day dreaming about being someone interesting or admitting his feelings for Cheryl (Kristen Wiig). But when Life Magazine starts going through a transitional period to become an online publication, the company and Walter's job becomes threatened. Head of the transition period, Ted Hendricks (Adam Scott), pesters Walter for famous photographer Sean O'Connell's (Sean Penn) new photo for the final cover of Life but it is missing. Suddenly, Walter jumps (sometimes literally) into an adventure to find the negative and his simple business man life will never be the same. 

The negative part of the film... Literally. 

Ben Stiller has never hid his acting talents, but he has veiled them behind his comedy. Not here. Stiller is in top form as Mitty, capitalising on all aspects of the character from boring workman to adventurer, the change between the two never feeling forced. His heartfelt adventure is fuelled by dedication and loyalty as well as an overwhelming dedication to Wiig's Cheryl, all of which Stiller portrays without a hitch. Wiig, too, is endlessly likeable, the polar opposite of Scott's Hendricks, who is perfectly horrid. He is rude, arrogant, and ignorant, whilst Wiig's Cheryl is supportive, friendly, and kind when no one else is. It is the balance of these two that spur Mitty's adventure and fortunately the balance is just right. The audience can identify with Mitty, they feel the same anger towards Hendricks that Walter does, as well as the same level of loyalty to Cheryl.

Stiller's hottest role to date.

But what Walter's adventure excels in is its minor characters. An extremely drunk pilot, a seaman, an E-Harmony employee, a simple hotel worker. Steve Conrad's screenplay make these characters completely irreplaceable. It is not just that Walter needs them and their to get through his adventure, Stiller's direction and Conrad's writing give them such heart you cannot help but fall in love with all of them. Whether it is Todd constantly calling from the E-Harmony call centre trying to update Walter's profile because it is so dull or the helicopter pilot singing loudly into a karaoke machine, drinking a boot of beer, they are fully realised characters, despite the tiny screen time.

'And what?'

The film is also visually stunning. It is always helpful to be set in the volcanic regions of Iceland at points in the film, but the camera work is so gracefully presented, and combined with such a brilliant soundtrack of soft indie music, the film overwhelms the audio-visual senses with perfect technicality. The story telling is only one aspect of film-making; how it is made is equally important and Stiller has completely understood this. However, the romance between Mitty and Cheryl often feels forced, especially nearer the end of the film. It is an unneeded aspect of an otherwise lovely film. Remove the romantic development and the film loses nothing of worth. Is friendship between a man and a woman such a scary thought for Hollywood? Either way, the films artistic merits outweigh the flaws. The first act of the film, Walter's daydreams mash through all genres of film proving that Stiller, as a director can do, pretty much, anything. Intimate fight scenes, superhero fight scenes, Benjamin Button, and so on.

A truly delightful film. There is soul in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty that has led it to be described as a new Forrest Gump. Of course, it is not quite the classic standard that Gump is, but there is no way one could leave the cinema without a smile on their face. Mitty takes us on a journey and it is completely captivated.

Best Bit? There's several moments, but his time spent in Iceland easily comes out top. There's karaoke, a performance of Major Tom's (David Bowie) Space Oddity, a drunk pilot, and a hilarious sequence that involves jumping onto a boat and sharks. Either that or the superhero fight sequence.

Aren't Weddings Lovely? NO!

Just before we get into all the Oscar nominated films, let's take a moment out and talk about a movie that will make you laugh till your sides hurt. Had their been 10 nominations for Best Picture, there's always a chance that this could've been nominated. (Along with other snubbed movies like Drive, Shame, Tinker Tailor, Tintin... What are the Academy thinking this year?) Today, we look at Bridesmaids.

The concept for the film is not necessarily something you'd expect from a comedy. It's one lady's life turning to misery and disappointment. It's a fairly simply concept. Annie (Kristen Wiig) is asked to be the Maid of Honour at her childhood best friend, Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) wedding. However, the rest of the bridesmaids are not the most most compatible lot. Firstly, there's lad-ish sister in law, Megan (Melissa McCarthy), then pretentious and charitable Helen Harris III, who is slowly stealing Lillian away from Annie. There is also Becca (Ellie Kemper) and Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey). Due to her jealousy and declining personal life, Annie starts to over stress and cause a lot of issues over the wedding. Though their may be a ray of hope in the form of good cop, Nathan (Chris O'Dowd).

Karaoke did not go down so well at the bridal shower. 

First of all, all the performances in the movie are brilliant with a special mention to Kristen Wiig (Who is nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar) and Melissa McCarthy (nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.) It's not often that comedy roles go so well noticed, but McCarthy in particular deserves the recognition that she is receiving. She is absolutely brilliant as the brutish Megan. Highlights of her performance include taking a dump in a sink while wearing a very expensive dress and wrestling Annie on a bed and claiming to be 'her life.' Kristen Wiig, as Annie, is also superb. Not only is she hilarious when she needs to be, she portrays her more negative emotions with as much conviction. Chris O'Dowd, in his first big Hollywood movie after his humble origins in the I.T. Crowd, is also fantastic. While his accent is hit and miss (an immigrant perhaps) he is funny, witty, but also the most soulful character in the film; honest and well natured.

'Did you hear something?'
'I don't know, I covered my ears.'

The film was incredibly well written and the comic timing was spot on. Some of the editing, as well, was brilliant. Nothing particularly special in the way of technical elements such as score, soundtrack, or camera shots, nor was there anything  bad. It was simply very generic in these terms. Definite;y director Paul Feig's best film to date. The film is a bundle of laughs that doesn't try to hard. It doesn't focus on the one liners or fart jokes (while they are included), it does what all the best comedies should do. It turns daily things into hilarious moments as well as exaggerating every last detail.

A really fun movie. Not one for all the family, mind you. The opening scene is a sex scene (a very awkward one) and the c word is yelled into a teenagers face. Keep it away from the children. A must see of 2011 and, while I don't thing Melissa McCarthy will get the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, it still fills me with joy that people can recognise great comedic performances.

Best Bit? The montage of different crimes committed to get Chris O'Dowd's attention. I couldn't stop laughing.