Ridley Scott’s best film in years, The Martian is a highly engrossing and moving tribute to scientific ingenuity, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the trust in faith to see dark times through.

Alien and Blade Runner cemented Ridley Scott’s reputation as not only a one of kind visualist, but a major contributor to the wide and wonderful world of science fiction cinema. They also set the tone for a filmography filled with dark, brooding and (at times) bloody stories, with the words “hope filled”, “fun”, or “feel good” rarely used to describe his 23 (so far) additions to cinema.

With The Martian Scott switches gears and as a result he delivers not only his best work in years, but perhaps his best film altogether that slingshots past the high bar set by recent space travel movies Gravity and Interstellar, thanks to Scott’s technically assured and polished direction, Drew Goddard’s tech heavy yet emotionally accessible script, and fine acting led by a compelling and moving performance from Matt Damon.

Based on the bestselling novel by Alex Weir, The Martian stars Damon as Mark Watney, an astronaut and botanist who is stranded on Mars after a manned mission goes pear shaped when a fierce storm separates him from his crew. While his fellow space travellers and NASA assume him dead, the ever resilient Watney uses his smarts and equally strong spirit to survive on the red planet. Meanwhile on Earth news of Watney’s survival sparks a frantic rescue plan.

Where The Counselor (highly underrated) was Scott’s grittiest portrayal of mankind undone by violence and greed resulting in  a world without grace, The Martian is a shining example of how humanity’s greatest gifts of mind, spirit and faith should be embraced and used to their full extent.  A key scene where Watney – bereft of timber fuel needed to conduct an experiment - chips away wood from a crucifix only to look at it apologetically and ask the crucified Jesus for a helping hand, is one of both touching humbleness and awareness that while a scientific mind knows the mechanics of the universe, they do not control the universe.

Damon is perfectly cast as Whatney, personifying the intelligence and humour and “every man” quality that makes him so easy to root for. This is especially vital since the stakes at play is the life of a man we the audience have only just met, yet like the best of human connections  it is a life we come to appreciate and barrack for in his struggle to return to Earth.

Much like Apollo 13 (the 1995 space travel classic directed by Ron Howard), that job is up to the bright minds of NASA, as portrayed by a collection of strong talent including Chiwetel Eljiofor, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, and Jeff Daniels who is all stern logic as the director of NASA. It’s kudos to Scott and Goddard that the scenes on Earth not only hold up to, but compliment the main attraction of Whatley’s plight.

Same with the scenes featuring Whatney’s space travelling crew (again portrayed by strong talent including Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena and Kate Mara), who unlike Scott’s last planet hoping team in Prometheus, have some personality and depth to them.

As per Scott’s pedigree The Martian is great on the eye with stellar work from cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, and is excellently paced courtesy of editor Pietro Scalia.

Yet above all it’s a film that has a quality rare to Scott’s filmography: hope. He has scared us (Alien), wowed us (Blade Runner), brought us to tears (Thelma & Louise), & entertained us (Gladiator), but seldom has he filed us with the kind of hope that The Martian evokes. It’s a welcome change.