JEANNE’S REVIEW

Ryan Gosling gives a tour de force performance as middle school science teacher, Dr. Ryland Grace, in PROJECT HAIL MARY, the screen adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. Directed by Oscar winners Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a memorable screenplay by Drew Goddard, this exceptionally entertaining film should be seen as intended --- in IMAX.

Grace, as everyone calls him, wakes up on a spaceship light years from home. He has no recollection initially as to how he got there. PROJECT HAIL MARY unfolds via flashbacks, and as Grace’s memory returns, we become privy to his origin story. We also learn about his mission which is to find the cause of the sun dying and come up with a solution.

Originally, there were three individuals on the ship, but as Grace quickly finds out, the other two didn’t survive the trip. Now, he is alone and tasked with solving the dilemma Earth is facing. If things continue as they are, our planet will most likely cease to exist due to the cooling of the climate --- and subsequently the loss of food sources. It’s a great weight to carry and Grace never felt he was right for this inauspicious job.

But, here he is --- and he must move forward. He cannot speak directly to his team on Earth led by Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), a formidable ally who believed in Grace from the start. She is responsible for recruiting him to join in this worldwide effort to save Earth. Instead, he makes videos of his work --- and only has Mary, the voice of the ship, to talk to.

That is until a very large, very strange spaceship appears. Aboard this ship is another sole survivor --- an alien made of rocks, with no face and five leg-arms which can be used for multiple purposes. Grace names his new friend Rocky (puppeteer and performer James Ortiz), and now PROJECT HAIL MARY has become one of the most delightful buddy movies of all time.

Together, Grace and Rocky learn to communicate, then they work at solving the problem, because Rocky’s planet is also experiencing the same issue. These two geniuses form an unbreakable bond as they utilize everything at their disposal to come up with the right answer. Rocky even solves Grace’s problem of being able to return to Earth --- a goodbye that seems unthinkable.

With a runtime of two hours and 36 minutes, PROJECT HAIL MARY could have been shortened,, especially since the setup drags on a bit too long --- and we almost lost David, who struggled to stay awake. After the arrival of Rocky, things pick up dramatically. Gosling was doing an amazing job alone on his ship, with humorous quips populating the script at a brisk pace.

But the character of Rocky adds an entirely new dimension --- and another layer of humor. Goddard’s writing is superb, featuring banter between Grace and Rocky that is truly believable --- and hilarious. Gosling is simply spectacular --- it takes a great deal of talent and dedication to carry this movie with such selflessness. When Grace teaches Rocky how to hug, it’s as moving as any moment ever captured on film.

PROJECT HAIL MARY may be the best buddy movie to come along in quite a while, but it’s also so much more.

Hüller is her usual incredible self --- playing Eva with an intensity necessary for this perilous predicament in which Earth finds itself. Lord and Miller’s film also boasts breathtaking visual effects and production designs that are out of this world (pun intended). And the original score by Daniel Pemberton complements the story in so many ways --- it’s pure genius.

Like any good love story --- and it’s definitely fair to call it that --- PROJECT HAIL MARY reminds us of what is most important in life --- “We do not endure alone.” This inspiring movie should not be missed!

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

DAVID’S REVIEW

Earth’s sun is slowly dimming as bits of it are being eaten away by a strange substance. In 30 years, the loss of full sunlight will cause major food issues. This is the premise of Ryan Gosling’s new film PROJECT HAIL MARY.

Scientists have discovered other stars in the same jeopardy, but one star in particular --- many light years away --- seems immune to the substance. A possible solution is to send an astronaut, a pilot and a scientist to the star to investigate. But it’s basically a suicide mission because the space travelers cannot return to Earth due to fuel limitations.

Project Hail Mary director Eva Stratt (Academy Award nominee Sandra Hüller) must choose another scientist to accompany the mission on board the spaceship after a disaster. She selects Ryland Grace (Gosling) who she recruited to be part of the initial ground team preparing for the excursion. Grace was plucked from his middle school where he taught science because of his much-maligned thesis paper for his doctorate. Stratt has great faith in Grace, even though he has never considered himself a hero.

PROJECT HAIL MARY is told in flashbacks and primarily in real time on the space ship. When the movie begins, he awakens on the spaceship --- alone --- and unable to remember why he is there. Eventually his memory returns and he finds that the pilot and astronaut have died. A much larger spaceship suddenly arrives next to his and  he discovers an alien creature on board --- also alone. He’s made of rocks loosely shaped like a spider. Grace names him Rocky, and tests various computer voices before settling on one (provided by James Ortiz). Grace even attempts using Meryl Streep’s voice at one point, and the result is a laugh-out-loud moment.

Gosling renders a phenomenal performance, seemingly  onscreen 99% of the time. It’s only March but this turn by the veteran actor --- who also produces --- is as Oscar-worthy as any portrayal this critic has ever seen by anybody. Hüller also delivers a fine portrayal of Stratt,, never more so than when she grabs the karaoke mike at a pre-launch party --- and everyone watches in stunned silence as she sings a beautiful rendition of Harry Styles’ song “Sign of the Times”.

It was W.C. Fields who warned actors about playing opposite children in a film, but I wonder what he would have thought about Gosling acting opposite a bunch of rocks? It turns out to be a truly emotional adventure for Grace and Rocky, and for the viewing audience, as well.

This movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir with a screenplay by Oscar nominee Drew Goddard. The film is directed by the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Oscar winners themselves for SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE and THE LEGO MOVIE. The absolutely wonderful musical score is courtesy of Academy Award nominee Daniel Pemberton. The rest of the crew behind this astonishing film is comprised of many award-winning talents.

At 2 hours and 36 minutes, the editing could have been a little tighter. But I found the film to move a lot quicker than I anticipated. I’m not entirely convinced to call PROJECT HAIL MARY a crowd pleaser. The scientific jargon may lose some viewers, yet it is presented in such a competent manner that we can still grasp the meaning behind the science. If at all possible, see this movie on IMAX!

And one last thing: the next time my partner calls me “dumb as a box of rocks” --- I will remind her of the brilliant Rocky from PROJECT HAIL MARY.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!