Andy Weir wrote a compelling novel about being trapped on Mars. One third of the way through the book and I knew why Matt Damon choose the role. Half way through the book and I couldn’t put it down and then It was done. Now I wanna see the movie. 

Every actor needs that isolation movie to prove he’s (or she’s) worth their salt. Not every body can hold your attention when there aren’t any other actors to get reactions from.  In a hotel, in the middle of a vampire apocalypse, on a island or between a couple of rocks the setting doesn’t matter. What makes a difference is the actor showing you how they go from normal to their individual breaking point. How do they cope with that lonliness? What do you do when nobody is there to listen to your ramblings? This is where the character develops and obviously we are fascinated by it or they would stop making them.

Its the tone of the character that struck me reading the Martian. He’s smart. The ingenuity of the character is something we have seen in Matt Damon’s characters like Bourne or Will Hunting. Its also this chip that he has on his shoulder . Mark Watney is funny. Not in a slapstick , Steve Martin kind of way. In a very sarcastic kind of way. Its the way I imagine Matt talks to Ben Affleck.  Much like Ben’s portrayal of Nick Dunne in Gone Girl. I believe Matt Damon is Mark Watney before I’ve even seen the film.

Now all is left is to see the film. Can The Martian deliver to the new movie fans while still nodding to the people who have already completed the Novel? From viewing the trailer it appears that they are staying close to the source material. Please leave some room for some surprises. The risk is always if its too close to the book it could make for a very anticlimactic viewing experience.