4.5 STARS. PROJECT HAIL MARY. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Starring Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce and more.
JORDAN OSMAN reviews
Project Hail Mary is a science fiction film based on a book of the same name by Andy Weir. Set in the near-future, the story follows Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who awakes to find himself alone on a spaceship in outer space. His two would-be-crewmates are found dead and his memory is clouded surrounding how and why he’s there.
“Oh that Ryan”
Before you reflexively Google ‘Ryan Gosling vs Ryan Reynolds’ here’s a quick disambiguation: Ryan Reynolds is a brown-haired Canadian actor in his 40s that starred in Free Guy, whilst Ryan Gosling is a brown-haired Canadian actor in his 40s that starred in The Fall Guy – truly chalk and cheese. Whilst Reynolds is known for his action-comedies like Deadpool and Red Notice, Gosling has had a more varied career from thrillers to musicals. It’s this kind of dynamism that fits perfectly with Project Hail Mary’s comedic highs and emotional lows.
Part space adventure, part sci-fi mystery Project Hail Mary is best experienced without any foreknowledge of the plot itself beyond the premise. By avoiding spoilers, the audience is just as curious as Ryland as he voyages into the unknown.
Less science, more fiction
Despite its dramatic premise, Project Hail Mary is not Dune, or 2001. It has a particular kind of levity often missed by bombastic space operas with their intergalactic wars and cosmic politics. Though the film is largely about scientific discovery, its plot is more ‘fiction’ than ‘science’; Project Hail Mary is not concerned with explaining any more than is necessary about its sci-fi tech to the audience.
The believability and scientific depth of certain scenes suffers at times, but the film makes up for it with visual spectacles and well-written comedy ranging from slapstick to clever verbal gags. While the film could lecture the audience on the astrophysics behind Ryland’s spaceship, we instead watch him struggle to pilot it like a learner driver trying to parallel park a limousine on the M3.
Those looking for a scientifically accurate space expedition may be disappointed as this is a sci-fi film easily enjoyed by the kind of person that says they don’t like sci-fi.
The spice of life
Project Hail Mary is extremely varied in tone; it’s just as good at getting you on the edge of your seat as it is at cracking jokes or playing with your heartstrings. This tonal variety is supported by a synthy, space-age soundtrack from composer Daniel Pemberton (known for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). The score’s bleeps and bloops often start as simple, groovy beats that build to dramatic harmonies with soaring strings and roaring brass reminiscent of Karl Jenkins and Hans Zimmer. This soundtrack pairs well with the film’s stunning visuals curtesy of cinematographer Greig Fraser (known for Dune and The Batman).
So why watch it?
Although being abandoned in the abyss of space sounds dire, Project Hail Mary is conversely a film about hope. The film’s grounded optimism is the perfect counter to the global turmoil and nihilism that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Because although Ryland’s situation is hopeless and destitute, life can’t really get worse so it might as well get better.
Project Hail Mary is an optimistic film, the kind that sees the glass half-full or stops for ice-cream on the way home from school. It chooses to be happy when it’s responsible to do so, rather than singing kumbaya into the abyss and hoping for the winning Lotto numbers to echo back.
Even in the depths of space, Project Hail Mary manages to be down-to-Earth with its relatable themes and genuine humour. Though it may push believability at times, it’s an absorbing adventure that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. There’s enough variety in its humour, relatability in its themes, and visual spectacles to make it more than worth a watch for anyone.
What: Project Hail Mary – a sci-fi film for everyone
Where: Select cinemas (Labia, Ster Kinekor, Nu Metro)
WS
