Project Hail Mary is a cinematic masterpiece. Ryan Gosling is transcendent, but Rocky stole my heart. I laughed, I cried, and my life is forever changed.
I allowed myself to go into Project Hail Mary fairly blind. I knew Ryan Gosling was playing a teacher, I knew he was headed to space to save the world, and I knew there was an alien involved. Beyond that? Nothing. I am happy to report that this is the best film I have seen all year, and frankly, it isn’t even close.
From the opening frames, I was struck by how brilliantly beautiful this movie is. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have crafted something that feels both massive and incredibly intimate. There are specific shots of the vast, silent vacuum of space that genuinely moved me to tears. It’s one thing to see a star field on screen; it’s another to be made to feel like a tiny, insignificant speck in a boundless universe. That sense of scale is breathtaking, yet the film never loses sight of the human (and non-human) heart at its center.
I also have to talk about the humor, because I was not prepared to laugh this hard. I suppose I should have expected it given Lord and Miller’s track record, but the wit is so seamlessly woven into the tension. Within the first ten minutes, I realized I was watching something special. It’s a survival story, yes, but it’s told with a levity that makes the high-stakes science feel accessible and incredibly fun.
At the core of this almost one-man show is Ryan Gosling, who is undeniably at the top of his game. For two and a half hours, he commands the screen, often entirely alone, and he never lets your attention wander for a second. He portrays Ryland Grace with such vulnerability and intelligence that you’re right there with him, solving every astrophage riddle and feeling every ounce of his terror. If he isn’t the early frontrunner for the Best Actor after this, I don’t know what we’re doing.
But then, there’s Rocky.
The moment we met the alien, I fell in love. I knew he would be important to the plot, but I never expected the relationship between Grace and Rocky to go as deep as it did. Their bond is the soul of the movie. There were moments of genuine peril where I found myself leaning so far forward in my seat I thought I might fall over, my heart pounding, terrified that something might happen to them.
Their communication, their shared curiosity, and their ultimate sacrifice for one another created a connection that left me feeling – honestly – a little bit jealous. I have wonderful friends, but the bond between these two is so powerful that it makes me emotional just thinking about it.
The technical elements only elevate this connection. The score is incredible, delivering emotion exactly when it needs to, but it’s the use of silence that gave me the most chills. The quiet moments in space, where the sound drops out completely, are hauntingly accurate and deeply effective. It grounds the film in a reality that makes the message of environmental protection and selflessness feel all the more urgent.
Ultimately, Project Hail Mary is a story about what we owe to each other – not just as humans, but as sentient beings in a cold, lonely galaxy. It’s a film about the power of friendship and the lengths we will go to when we realize we aren’t alone. It is stunning, it is heartbreaking, and it is a masterpiece.
Please, do yourself a favor: see this on the biggest screen possible. It might actually change your life.
About Project Hail Mary
Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.
Project Hail Mary comes to theaters on March 20th.