*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD*
The long-awaited film adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 science fiction sensation, “Project Hail Mary,” finally hit the big screen on Friday, March 20. The film, starring Ryan Gosling, marks the second of Weir’s books to be adapted for the screen, following the widely successful release of “The Martian” (2015). “The Martian” starred Matt Damon and was based on Weir’s 2011 novel.
The film follows Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with little memory of who he is or how he got there. Through a sequence of flashbacks, both Grace and the audience learn that he has been tasked with uncovering the secrets behind a mysterious substance that is causing the sun to die, threatening life on Earth. Coming in at just over 150 minutes, “Project Hail Mary” is a visual and emotional spectacle that will have you crying tears of sorrow and laughter.
The novel has been widely loved by readers since its release, winning the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. The audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter, has also garnered a lot of acclaim from both fans and critics, receiving the 2022 Audie Awards for Science Fiction and Audiobook of the Year.
MGM Studios bought the rights to the film adaptation in 2020, before the book had even been published. Drew Goddard, who wrote the screenplay for “The Martian,” signed on as the film’s screenwriter, and the acclaimed duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller signed on to direct. Gosling had been slated to play Grace since March 2020, although filming did not begin until early 2024.
The film debuted with a 95% on the “Rotten Tomatoes” Tomatometer and is “Certified Fresh” based on 325 reviews, making it the highest rated movie of Gosling’s career.
As an adaptation, the film ensured that the book’s integrity remained intact. While it can be argued that a lot of the meat is missing, it was really just condensed for the film. Instead of sitting through the 50-odd pages that Grace spends developing an in-depth language system with his new five-legged alien friend Rocky (James Ortiz), viewers get the cliff notes via a comedic montage. Sure, those who have only seen the movie might leave with a few questions on the specifics of the science or of the characters from Grace’s life on Earth, but luckily you can still turn to the source material for a more in-depth look into Weir’s world.
Gosling truly showed his range in this role. At the beginning of the film, Grace is a shell of a person with no memory, no one to talk to and no idea where in the universe he is. Throughout the film, he uncovers the reality of what he has set out to do, sending him through a rollercoaster of emotions in coming to terms with the finality of his fate within his quest. We also get to see Grace as a loveable science teacher, a cowardly scientist and, to put it simply, an angry man.
The film has gained a lot of appraisals for its visuals and practical effects. There were no green screens used at all throughout the making of the film. Computer-generated imagery and other visual effects were used in some places, such as in touching up the appearance of Rocky and some exterior shots. However, several different puppets and robots were used to bring Rocky to life on screen, rather than him being digitally inserted during post-production.
“Project Hail Mary” finds a wonderful balance between the drama and the humor, making for both an uplifting and emotional watch.
