In Project Hail Mary, a science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship, light-years from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the Sun and to save Earth. Source: Australian Catholics.
Based on the book of the same name, it stars Gosling as Ryland Grace, a reluctant hero whose mission it is to save the world which is at risk of dying because the sun’s light is dimming.
At the preview, an astrophysicist introduced the film to confirm much of the scientific material so that its premise has a toehold on reality.
For this viewer, it was a load of science fiction, sharpened with imagination, engaging with its adventurous journey and the growth of the relationship that emerges between Grace and an alien creature.
The film is told in flashbacks, and we come to understand that Grace was put into a coma to become part of the team on the top-secret Project Hail Mary. He wakes up years later to realise that his colleagues have died en route and that everything is up to him.
Grace meets a weird arachnid-like entity whom he names Rocky and creates a language system to communicate with it. The two team up to save their imperilled home planets by sourcing astrophage, a black blobby substance that eats radiation.
Gosling does a good job as Grace, an unlikely saviour, who shows compassion to Rocky and initially understands that he is on a one-way trip and that this will mean he will die in completing his mission.
Themes of sacrifice and empathy are highlighted, as well as the notion of a cosmic connection. My scientific understanding went only as far as blips and dots. However, there was much to enjoy here, especially the dazzling shots of a star-spangled cosmos.
In response to Ryland’s question, “Do you believe in God?” Eva Stratt (Hüller), who plays the cooly detached mission director, replies, “It beats the alternative”.
The film suggests that we simply cannot be alone in the vastness of a deep space that is ever expanding.
Project Hail Mary: Starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller. Directed by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller. 156 minutes. Rated M (science fiction themes)
FULL REVIEW
Project Hail Mary (Australian Catholics)
