PROJECT HAIL MARY
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, and James Ortiz
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
NICK
Despite some tonally misleading promotional material, Project Hail Mary is a terrific family adventure film. Ryan Gosling is perfect as Ryland Grace as he brings his undeniable likability and humour to the role, while Drew Goddard has written a tight script (his second Andy Weir adaptation following The Martian) for him to work with. It all comes together with great direction from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and most importantly, Greig Fraser's cinematography which is so impressive that I was visibly moved by its beauty. I may not have found this to be the masterpiece some are claiming, but it’s still a damn good film.
ADRIANO
It’s March, and 2026 already has an incredible blockbuster. Although Project Hail Mary leans heavily into a man-and-his-pet narrative much more comically than I expected, all my worries about it were quickly washed away. The friendship at the centre is heartwarming, and it gives the breathtaking back half another layer of power. The movie’s visuals are magnificent; but more than anything, this is a gripping character story of a lonely man finding his worth, and Ryan Gosling is more than up to the task with an incredible performance. Find an IMAX screen. Watch Project Hail Mary. It’s simply amazing.
AMARÚ
Telling Project Hail Mary’s fractured narrative through Dr. Ryland Grace’s (Ryan Gosling) perspective allows for two very successful outcomes: the discovery of both present and past’s mysteries being as energetic and exciting as if we were on the titular ship, and the release of a crowd-pleasing blockbuster not seen since the action/sci-fi heyday of the 1990s. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s energetic hope and visual flare combined with the film’s inspiring messaging about connection evoke the vibes of that decade’s family-friendly, feel-good epics. So, even though it relied on streaming-worthy explanations and leaps of suspended belief, my smile grew wider with every passing hour.
