Project Hail Mary Movie Review
Alec Hall 30’
hallal@lakeforest.edu
Staff Writer
8.9/10
Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up in space with no memory of how he got there. He’s light-years away from Earth, all alone, after finding out his other two crewmates are dead. His memory comes back in pieces. Grace remembers Astrophage, the light-consuming alien organism that’s draining energy from the sun and threatening humanity with mass starvation in the next thirty years. He’s then promptly chased down by an alien spaceship and makes first contact with Rocky, an engineer and living rock formation from the planet Erid. Together, Grace and Rocky stumble on a cure for Astrophage and manage to give their home planets a fighting chance.
Many aspects of this movie work together to make it such a wonderful experience, both at home and in theaters.
Every scene felt so unbelievably vibrant. The cinematography was breathtaking and made it impossible not to fall in love with the beauty and majesty of space. The attention to detail was so beautifully constructed and touched the soul in a way that’s almost unreal. I could wax poetic for ages about it. Ryland Grace is such a beautifully written character; he is a smart man with a doctorate in molecular biology, yet paints himself as just your everyday goofy middle school science teacher. He’s one of the most relatable characters that graced the big screen in a long time. Grace gets frustrated easily and runs from responsibility like his life depends on it. Yet, this is what makes him undeniably human. He’s clumsy, weird, wears his emotions on his sleeve, and has to be dragged, quite literally, kicking and screaming, into the role of Earth’s hero. Honestly, it’s not hard to see yourself in someone whose first response to waking up in space with no memory of how they got there is getting absolutely hammered. I mean, who wouldn’t have their own high-pitched Ryan Gosling screaming fit when gravity just gives out on you?
Sandra Hüller, who plays Eva Stratt, does a fantastic job showing the imminent threat of the extinction and mass starvation of humanity to a person. This film may not pass the Bechdel test, but it sure doesn’t shy away from showcasing the power and strength of a woman who’s willing to cross every line if it means ensuring humanity a shot at tomorrow. She doesn’t have time to waste and will not take no for an answer. She’s a killer and a savior, the world’s whipping post who sacrificed everything to give it a chance at life.
Don’t get me started on James Ortiz, who voiced and operated as the main puppeteer for Rocky. That man deserves a medal. Not only did he create Rocky’s absolutely lovable design, but he managed to foster an unforgettable performance from a sentient rock. Rocky becomes such a remarkable character that’s developed profoundly throughout the film. He’s hilariously sassy, but also an anxious wreck, and positively full of life. But one of the greatest things that Ortiz and Gosling contributed to this movie was showcasing the powerful friendship between Grace and Rocky.
Their friendship begins as a forced proximity relationship between two different species with vastly different cultural and societal norms. Both of them want to figure out the mystery of Tau Ceti, the only star not losing power despite an astrophage infestation. But they speak two vastly different languages and live in conditions that would easily kill each other if they were to mix. Despite this, their friendship quickly grows as both of them put their lives on the line to figure out why Tau Ceti isn’t dimming. They will face death with a smile if it means that the other has one more shot at saving their home worlds. Who wouldn’t give anything to have that kind of ride-or-die person in their life?
That’s my two cents. I give it an 8.9/10.