Matt Damon Had To Record The Best Part Of This Oscar-Nominated Performance Alone

This isn't the first time Damon has played a scientist stranded on an unknown planet, as he also played the treacherous Dr. Mann in "Interstellar." However, these roles are significantly different, as Watney's altruistic outlook is in stark contrast with Mann's nihilistic view on humanity, and these differences directly influence their eventual fates. While Mann's narrow-minded selfishness dooms him, Watney's faith in humanity pushes him to achieve the impossible, including the fact that he manages to grow potatoes on Martian soil. Moreover, the failed Mars mission leaves us completely alone with Watney for extended sequences, which are used to painstakingly document his game plan for survival. Video logs are used to take note of every triumph and failure, where Watney uses a mix of technical jargon and easy-to-understand metaphors to convey the complexity of the situation at hand. Some of the science might feel a bit inaccessible at times, but Watney's enthusiasm shines through and makes his efforts feel deeply human. So when Watney makes use of a convoluted hexadecimal system to contact NASA, we are not too caught up in the science, as the focus is on the human responses, which underline how we tend to react as a species when asked to take accountability for our unintended actions. None of these emotional aspects would've been as prominent without Damon's measured performance as Watney, who uses wit, humor, and vulnerability to push through acute loneliness. He is able to endure such misery because he hopes to be reunited with his loved ones on Earth someday, which fuels his decision to do everything he can to survive. Seeing his crew take major risks and return just for his sake has a major emotional effect on him — in this moment, he knows that he's in good hands, and that they will make sure that he comes home.