'Project Hail Mary' Movie Review
Image Source: Alphacoders
“Believe in the Hail Mary!”
Six years ago, it was announced that Amazon-MGM had acquired the rights to Andy Weir’s then-unpublished and untitled sci-fi novel. The project was set to star Ryan Gosling, and two months later, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller were set as the directors. With Drew Goddard on board as screenwriter, this creative team will spend the next few years developing what would become Project Hail Mary. The novel, which was released in 2021, received positive reviews from critics and became a bestseller. Fans of the book, such as myself, have been waiting for what has felt like an eternity to see Andy Weir’s remarkable novel come to life. After years of speculation, hype, excitement, and a tiny bit of dread, the film is finally here. And it’s remarkable.
Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up in space without any memory of who he is or what he’s doing there. As he slowly pieces together memories of his past and the purpose of his mission, he befriends an alien whom he names Rocky. Together, Ryland and Rocky must “save stars” before it’s too late. This is about as much plot information as I can provide without spoiling it. But I am very happy to report that Project Hail Mary is a movie for the ages. We’ve had a lot of great science-fiction films released over the last 10 years or so; Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Dune: Part Two are just a few examples of remarkable films the genre has produced since 2016. Project Hail Mary not only sits alongside those movies, but it also surpasses them. Much like The Martian (also adapted from an Andy Weir novel), Project Hail Mary wears its heart on its sleeve, and in a world of increasing cynicism and fear, the fact that movies like this are still being made is nothing short of a miracle. Unless you’re made of stone or a doomer Redditor that unironically uses words like “slop” and “Epic Bacon Cinema”, it’s hard not to gravitate to this film’s endless stream of charm, heart, and emotion.
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Image Source: IndieWire
The filmmakers responsible for bringing Ryland and Rocky to the big screen are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, their first (finished) directorial effort since their 2014 double whammy of 22 Jump Street and The Lego Movie. Not to say they haven’t been busy since 2014, as they are one of the main architects of the Spider-Verse movies and worked on Solo: A Star Wars Story before being fired due to creative clashes and economic issues. Project Hail Mary finds Lord & Miller in a very Spielbergian moment in their lives. The duo, alongside screenwriter Drew Goddard, manages to take all the heart, soul, science, and stakes of the book and create something breathtaking and truly awe-inspiring. All the humor is kept intact, but it never feels forced or out of place. Lord & Miller find themselves at home with a story of a middle school teacher who teams up with an alien to save the world. On a pure directorial level, Project Hail Mary greatly surpasses Lord & Miller’s other films. Not to say their other movies weren’t well-directed, but Project Hail Mary is made with a sense of skill and passion that makes you believe the duo has been making movies like this for decades. It’s not dissimilar toThe Lord of the Rings being directed to perfection by a filmmaker who mostly had a background in horror comedies and dramas. As evidenced by their work on The Lego Movie and the Spider-Verse films (which they did not direct, but wrote), Lord & Miller’s imaginations know no limits. In every scene, you feel like you’re experiencing the action with Rylana and Rocky. What can be said about the cinematography that hasn’t been said already? Greig Fraser has really made a name for himself since Rogue One, and Project Hail Mary stands next to that film, The Batman, and Denis Villeneuve’s first two Dune movies as some of the best-looking blockbusters of the last 10 years.
It isn’t just the humor and heart that Lord & Miller work well with; they also work well with the action and drama. Project Hail Mary isn’t a very action-heavy novel, and there’s only one major action sequence in the whole story. And thankfully, that one action sequence was done to perfection. Lord & Miller keep the tension up, which is helped byDaniel Pemberton's remarkable score. This may actually be tied with Across the Spider-Verse as his best score to date. This one big action scene is one of many that help the emotional core come together. The friendship between Ryland and Rocky is what helps Project Hail Mary stand out from other movies in this genre. Their friendship is not only heartfelt but also believable. You believe that Ryan Gosling will risk his life to help the little rock alien with no face. It could’ve been insanely easy to make the Ryland and Rocky friendship feel cheesy, forced, or corny. But thankfully, Lord & Miller’s talent for tonal balance keeps Ryland and Rocky’s friendship as the emotional core of the story. Rocky is also an accomplishment within himself. Like Yoda and BB-8 before him, you believe this puppet is a real, living creature, and he melts your heart whenever he’s on screen. While I’m sure Amazon-MGM will be happy for all the money they’re gonna make from Rocky merch, I, a fan of the book, am happy that people around the world love Rocky as much as we did before the movie came out.
Image Source: Variety
A lot can also be said about Ryan Gosling’s performance as Dr. Ryland Grace. Gosling also brings his A game, no matter what movie he’s in. When I read the book, I pictured Andrew Garfield as Ryland, but now, I’m glad Gosling got the role. Gosling is believably frustrated, anxious, confused, and determined in every scene. Yes, Ryland is charismatic and charming, but he’s also a massive nerd. But not like a comically nerdy nerd, but a nerd who knows a lot of shit but is often dumbfounded by his surroundings. If Gosling’s performance doesn’t work, neither does the movie. If you can’t believe Gosling is having a conversation with Rocky, the movie falls apart. Thankfully, it doesn’t. Gosling and James Ortiz (the voice of Rocky and one of his many puppeteers) have killer chemistry, so the friendship is just as perfect on the big screen as it is on the page.
All in all, Project Hail Mary is one of those special kinds of movies. A film that’s so heartfelt, so breathtaking, so larger-than-life, that you’re actually sad that you have to leave the theater when the credits roll. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller’s direction, Daniel Pemberton’s musical score, Drew Goddard’s screenplay, Greig Fraser’s cinematography, the breathtaking visual effects, the remarkable production design, and the winning performances from Ryan Gosling and James Ortiz all help make Project Hail Mary a masterpiece for the ages. A spectacular monument to friendship and imagination that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. IF you’re a film fan who still allows themselves to actually feel some sort of joy, this movie is the perfect one for you! You will laugh, you will cry, you will cheer, and you will think about your place in the universe when you finish it. But I promise you, after you finish Project Hail Mary, you’ll leave shouting one word at the top of your lungs: “AMAZE! AMAZE! AMAZE!”
Rating: 10/10
Project Hail Mary is now playing in theaters everywhere! Rated PG-13
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