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The Martian

Event •
Oct 22

Bring him home

Ridley Scott’s The Martian (2015) is a thrilling, character-driven survival story that became both a critical and commercial triumph. Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film stars Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney, who must rely on ingenuity, resilience, and science to survive alone on Mars after being mistakenly left behind by his crew.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Martian went on to gross over $630 million worldwide, becoming Scott’s highest-grossing film to date. It was named one of the Top 10 Films of 2015 by both the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review, and earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Matt Damon). The film won two Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and continues to be praised as one of the most scientifically accurate space films ever made, thanks in part to extensive collaboration with NASA.

Following the screening, there will be a panel of local experts who will share their insights into the actual obstacles of space travel, Mars Geology, as well as the limits of the human body.

Panelists:

• Lauren Steimer, USC Professor of Film and Media Studies
Prof. Lauren Steimer is Associate Professor of Film and Media in the School of Visual Art and Design at the University of South Carolina. She is the foremost expert on global stunt work, design, regulation, history, and labor. Her book, Experts in Action: Transnational Hong Kong-style Stunt Work and Performance (Duke University Press, 2021), traces a distinct, embodied history of transnational exchange by identifying and defining unique forms of expert performance common to contemporary globalized action film and television genres.
• Daniel Frost, USC Professor of Geophysics
Prof. Dan Frost explores what is inside the Earth by listening to reflections and refractions of the seismic waves from earthquakes as they travel through our planet. His interests stretch from what causes the earthquakes under Elgin, South Carolina to how the Earth’s solid iron inner core grows from the turbulent liquid iron outer core. He is fascinated by how planets grow and evolve, and is excited to learn more about other planets using seismometers that have been landed on Mars and the Moon.

• Enrique Lopez Rodriguez, USC Professor of Astrophysics
Dr. Enrique Lopez Rodriguez is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of South Carolina. His research focused on the study of the effect of magnetic fields on the evolution of galaxies across cosmic time and how these magnetic fields affect the accretion processes onto supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. He is an observational astronomer making use of the largest international telescopes around the world to obtain the sharpest images of galaxies.

Science on Screen®
Science on Screen® creatively pairs films with lively introductions by notable figures from the worlds of science, technology, and medicine. Launched in 2005 by the Coolidge Corner Theatre in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the nationwide program uses the power of cinema to spark curiosity and expand understanding of scientific ideas.

Since 2011, Science on Screen has awarded over $2.75 million in grants to more than 130 organizations in 45 states and Washington, D.C., bringing engaging, thought-provoking programming to audiences across the country. Each season, independent cinemas, museums, and community groups connect current, classic, cult, and documentary films to timely topics in science, making the program a dynamic hub for both film lovers and science enthusiasts.

An initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

2015. 141 min.

Watch Trailer Visit Official Site

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In-Person

The Nick

Oct 22