Reviews
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction novels of the modern era, so anticipation for its big screen adaptation has understandably risen astronomically as the release date has drawn closer. With that excitement has come towering expectations, and often when it comes to adaptations of beloved books, those expectations are rarely met. Fortunately, that is not something Project Hail Mary will ever be accused of. I can comfortably say that this is a generation-defining sci-fi film that will go down in cinematic history and be adored by fans for decades to come.
Brought from the page to the screen by directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, alongside a screenplay by Drew Goddard (The Martian), the film proves within its first two minutes that it is in the safest possible hands. The care and attention to detail poured into bringing these words to life is immediately apparent, capturing the spirit of Andy Weir’s story in a way that completely surpassed anything that I could have hoped for.
For those who have not read the book or are unfamiliar with the premise of Project Hail Mary, I am going to keep this deliberately vague, because going in as blind as possible is truly the best way to experience this out of this world sensation as it unfolds before your eyes.
At its simplest, Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a middle school science teacher who awakens alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As fragments of his memory begin to return, Grace discovers that he has been sent on a desperate mission to save Earth from an extinction level event, sanctioned by the leaders of the world and overseen by Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller). The sun, along with countless other stars across the galaxy, is being drained of its energy by a mysterious alien microorganism known as Astrophage, leaving Grace as humanity’s final roll of the dice. However, as hinted at in the film’s marketing and trailers, he is not entirely alone in this quest, encountering an unexpected extraterrestrial ally in Rocky (James Ortiz) who is also searching for answers.
It would be incredibly easy to run out of superlatives when describing Project Hail Mary. Narratively, it remains largely faithful to the source material, keeping the non-linear timeline in tact and capturing the magic that made Andy Weir’s novel such a phenomenon in the first place. While there are a few noticeable changes along the way, they serve the pacing of the film and allow Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to place their own creative stamp on the story. Importantly, none of these alterations feel careless or unnecessary. Each one feels deliberate and carefully considered, resulting in what is undoubtedly a tremendous adaptation.
The human imagination is a wonderful thing and, having read the book cover to cover numerous times, I cannot even begin to count how often I have vividly imagined the various intricacies of the spaceships, planets, and stars within Project Hail Mary. For perhaps the first time ever, the film surpassed my wildest dreams in almost every visual aspect with cinematographer Greig Fraser deserving an immense amount of credit. The scale and sheer beauty of the Petrova Line sent shivers down my spine. Seeing Blip-A, Rocky’s ship, for the first time is jaw dropping. Perhaps the most remarkable moment of all is witnessing the beauty of the planet Adrian, with one particular scene where the Petrova Line and Adrian appear together that will be talked about for years to come. It is the single most beautiful modern frame of cinema I have ever seen.
The relationship between Ryland Grace and Rocky is developed faultlessly. Admittedly, this was where I thought the film might fall short, as it would struggle to capture the emotional beats that the longer form of the book evokes. However, it gives me great pleasure to say that I was completely wrong. Their relationship is developed so well that on more than one occasion the tissues had to come out. Perhaps one of the more surprising elements is just how hilarious the film is from start to finish. Every single joke lands. It may be partly because Project Hail Mary is such an overwhelmingly good time, but I suspect it comes down to how brilliantly the humour is written and delivered.
This will also go down as a career defining role for Ryan Gosling, who has already cemented himself as an early contender for awards season more than a year out. Gosling has always been an accomplished actor with incredible performances under his belt, but here he feels absolutely perfect for the role, with his full range on display. Sandra Hüller, in a supporting role, is also a joy to behold in another fantastic piece of casting, providing the commanding, blunt, and straight to the point presence that flawlessly matches the character of Stratt. James Ortiz also deserves immense credit. Many people may assume Rocky is entirely computer generated, when in reality it is the exceptional puppet design and puppeteering from Ortiz that brings the character to life.
Technically, Project Hail Mary is a masterpiece. The production design from Charles Wood is nothing short of astounding. Building the Hail Mary spacecraft practically rather than relying heavily on green screens may seem like a small detail to some, but recreating so many of the book’s nuances in real life is astonishing to witness. The score is the ideal complement to the film in every scene. Composer Daniel Pemberton expertly pairs the music with the action, creating an upbeat and optimistic atmosphere when required before shifting instantly into something far more serious and foreboding. The same can be said for the sound design. Making space eerily silent so that you could almost hear a pin drop is not a new concept, but when utilised as effectively as it is here it becomes incredibly powerful.
It should come as absolutely no surprise that when awards season arrives next year Project Hail Mary will be at the forefront of conversations in almost every category. A film like this comes along once in a generation and is exactly what the art of filmmaking is all about. Guaranteed to become many people’s favourite film not just of the year but of the entire decade, Project Hail Mary is a cinematic triumph that demands to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.