By: Gunner Van Driessche
Ryan Gosling’s Performance
The movie opens with protagonist Ryland Grace inside a spaceship, coming out of a coma with no recollection of where he is. Ryan Gosling immediately ropes you in with his portrayal of Grace, a startled individual who quickly learns that he is alone in the spaceship. His two crewmates are deceased and did not make it out of their induced coma. As Grace’s memory begins to return, we see another side of his character: a nerdy, anxious, but charming science teacher who is asked to practically save the world. A genius science teacher with no family and only a disastrous past relationship with a girlfriend, Ryland Grace is alone.
Ryan Gosling delivers on all aspects. Whether it is the comedic timing or the pure emotion and shock value, his performance elevates this film beyond a visually pleasing sci-fi. He is able to pull off this character effectively, and his acting, particularly in the spaceship portion of the movie, is nothing short of incredible. It is emotionally touching without feeling forced, but comedic without ruining the tone of the movie.
Grace and Rocky
The movie’s main dynamic is between Grace and his new alien acquaintance, Rocky. While drifting in space, Grace encounters an alien species that “attaches” to his ship. Rocky (the name Grace gives the alien) is also alone on his spaceship and is from the planet Erid. They very quickly become the backbone of the movie through both comedic and heartfelt moments.
Grace begins to learn how to communicate with Rocky and develop his language. Through this, they devise a plan to save both of their stars, embarking on a journey together while learning about each other’s pasts and confronting the future. Both being sole survivors of their missions, they have nobody except each other to keep them company. Their relationship evolves into one of genuine trust and loyalty, as they repeatedly risk their lives for each other. In the end, Grace ultimately sacrifices his chance to return home to save Rocky, demonstrating that their connection grows past simple duty and into something profoundly personal. Rocky and Grace are the emotional and thematic backbone of this story, and the movie would quite frankly be much less engaging without this dynamic.
The Flashbacks
The other main plotline in this film are the flashbacks to before Grace embarks on the mission. These flashbacks serve as an exploration of Grace’s character and fill in the gaps of what we know and don’t know. We are told that the sun is being threatened by an invasive single-celled microorganism named Astrophage. By blocking 10% of the sun’s energy, Astrophage causes a significant decrease in light and heat reaching Earth, which threatens to cause a massive, terminal ice age. This serves as the essential conflict in the story, as the government works with Grace and hundreds of other scientists to gather knowledge about what Astrophage is and how to stop it. Astrophage has affected suns all around the universe except one, and they decide to send three people on a spaceship there to figure out why. Ultimately, this section of the movie does not shy away from being scientific and relies on the viewer to pay attention. While this storyline is likely less interesting than the spaceship storyline, it serves multiple essential expositional and character purposes.
The Ending
Project Hail Mary ends beautifully, plain and simple. Grace, realizing that Rocky cannot survive without his help, goes back to Rocky while sending the knowledge of his travels back to Earth to save his planet. This ensures the safety of both their planets, and Grace ultimately lives with Rocky on Rocky’s planet, Erid. The ending is thematically rich and gives the viewer closure. In the end, Grace is able to bond with Rocky, someone with whom he has a genuine connection.
Overall
This film is a must-watch that lives up to the hype. It is one of the most visually pleasing films of this century and has an incredible musical score that makes the movie truly shine. It also delivers some powerful emotional moments, thanks to Ryan Gosling’s lead performance, that will almost certainly receive an Oscar nomination. However, the film slightly suffers from quick cuts that can hinder emotional impact. Furthermore, it effectively intertwines comedy into this high-stakes world. Project Hail Mary delivers on almost every front and is a truly impressive cinematic experience: Highly recommended!
