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‘The Martian’ – Stylistic, but lacks gravitas
Film: “The Martian”; Director: Ridley Scott; Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover, Benedict Wong; Rating: **1/2
Maths, science and human will-power are the three components that propel “The Martian” into motion.
Directed by Ridley Scott, “The Martian”, based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name which was released in 2011 and adapted for the screen by Drew Goddard, is a science fiction that works on two plains — as a survival and a rescue film.
The film begins with a team of NASA astronauts, crew of the Ares 3, on their eighteenth day of exploration. While out collecting samples from the surface of the Red Planet, Mars, they are suddenly caught in an intense dust storm.
The team, along with their Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), is forced to evacuate their landing site in Acidalia Planitia, after being convinced that their injured colleague Mark Watney (Matt Damon), a botanist and mechanical engineer, has been killed in the sandstorm.
But it turns out that Mark, with his injuries, is still alive and stranded on Mars, trying to survive all by himself, with limited ration and with the knowledge that he would be stranded on Mars till he dies or for four years before the next mission – Ares 4 – can rescue him.
Back at the NASA, they discover that Watney is alive when satellite images of the landing site show evidence of his activity. They begin working on ways to rescue him, but initially withhold the news of his survival from the rest of the Ares 3 crew, who are on their way back to Earth aboard the Hermes Spacecraft.
On the performance front, the ace cast offers nothing exceptional. Matt Damon as Mark Watney is staid and lacklustre, as he tries to grow food, make water or overcome his loneliness.
It is his occasional sarcastic one-liners during the recording of the video diaries, that lend some humour, but these are too few and far between.
Jessica Chastain, as the guilt-ridden Commander, and Michael Pena as the crew of Ares 3 are prominent in the scenes on the space-craft Hermes.
But, with limited screen time and no emotional baggage, their characters are flat and fail to create an impact.
For the Indian audience, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Vincent Kapoor, director of the Mars Mission, with his mixed parentage is intriguing.
Kristen Wiig as Annie Montrose, the head of the media relations, makes her presence felt with one strong offhanded dialogue — making her displeasure with the director known to the team.
The screenplay lacks drama, except for Mark Watney’s self-suturing scene, which is melodramatic. The narration with a slight variation in the graph, progresses on an even keel, making the viewing experience a tad boring.
There is inconsistency on the direction front and careful viewing exposes these loopholes.
With excellent production values, the film is stylistically and meticulously assembled with flourishing hues of red and blue.
The three distinct settings — the planet Mars with its amazingly barren landscape, the spaceship Hermes with its crew in command of the actions around, and at times, ambiguously floating about and at the Space Mission on Earth – NASA and CNSA (China) — the film excels visually in each sphere.
But overall, “The Martian” lacks the gravitas to create the impact of an exciting adventurous film.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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