Culture writer Lamisa Worthy reviews Ryan Gosling’s new film Project Hail Mary.
Few science-fiction films of late arrive with expectations quite as high as Project Hail Mary. At a time when even the most ambitious films fall victim to the cultural banality that comes with being lost to the algorithmic depths of streaming platforms, this film feels almost like a breath of fresh air.
It excels across the board: in its screenplay, cast, and Greig Fraser’s cinematography, reminding us why the theatre experience remains unparalleled.
If you’ve ever come across the phrase “accidentally became important at work and it’s ruining my life,” Project Hail Mary might be its most literal, and most entertaining, interpretation.
The plot follows science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), who awakens on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories gradually return, he realises he has been sent on a last-ditch mission to stop a mysterious substance causing the sun to die. Just as he begins to grapple with the scale of his task and his isolation, he encounters an alien he names “Rocky” (i.e. the most emotionally compelling rock you’ll see this year) who has been sent on a parallel mission.
Author Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian, retains his signature blend of scientific puzzle and humour in Project Hail Mary, while noticeably easing off the dense technical jargon that characterised his earlier work. The film adaptation feels more accessible to the average viewer, with enough science to retain intellectual grounding, but with a generous palette cleanser of humour that makes it exciting to follow.
Director Greig Fraser crafts a remarkably immersive world through a seamless blend of CGI and practical effects, beautifully underscored by Daniel Pemberton’s transcendent score. The final scene in particular would fall flat without the musical swell that accompanies it, giving the closing moments a sense of cosmic catharsis.
In an industry increasingly leaning toward AI-assisted visuals, this commitment to physical filmmaking is admirable. Watching it on a big screen feels less like a luxury and more like the intended experience.
A great deal of the film’s emotional and narrative backbone is built through flashbacks, a device that can sometimes feel disjointed or simply tedious. Here, however, the placement of each is carefully deliberate. Even moments that initially appear strangely timed are ultimately revealed to be precisely placed, creating a satisfying cohesion.
The film’s success rests just as heavily on its casting. Gosling delivers what may well become one of the most celebrated performances of his career. With the film currently holding a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, his highest-rated film on the platform, and ranking within the top 100 on Letterboxd, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Gosling’s effortless charm strikes a wonderful balance between reluctant hero and socially awkward scientist, grounding the film’s intellectual premise in something intimately human.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of that was the fact that his co-star was an alien he named Rocky. In the age of CGI, the choice to construct Rocky as a physical puppet controlled and voiced by James Ortiz feels almost quietly radical. It also places a particular demand on Gosling and highlights the strength of his performance, as for a significant portion of the film’s runtime, his primary co-star is, quite literally, a rock. And yet, the emotional sincerity is rife.
The supporting cast is led by Sandra Hüller, who brings a commanding authority to her role that anchors the narrative’s global stakes in recognisably human tension. Her karaoke rendition of Harry Styles’ Sign of the Times is especially striking, hitting a delicate emotional chord and carrying an unexpected poignance and sincerity.
If there is criticism to be made, it is perhaps that the film leaves one wanting slightly more of Hüller’s character, not because her performance lacks substance, but because it is so compelling that we crave more. Similarly, it would have been interesting to see how Earth might have fared during Grace’s mission.
Yet, such additions might ultimately have diluted what becomes the soul of the story: friendship and connection. Grace and Rocky, two beings from literally different worlds, share the same impossible task. We grow to cherish the deeply sincere relationship between the two and how it allows for a redemption that neither thought was possible.
Ultimately, the film reminds us that life is precious, yet truly understanding its value demands sacrifice, bravery, and most of all, friendship. Rather than the bleak dystopias or sprawling franchises that dominate much of contemporary science fiction, Project Hail Mary distinguishes itself through a sense of genuine optimism and hope.
Its real triumph, therefore, lies not solely in its scientific scope or visual ambition, but in the way it leaves the audience carrying that hope with them long after the credits roll.
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