And just like that, another science-fiction film joins the ranks of beloved all-time favorites like Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary pulled at our heartstrings while delivering the depth of content aspiring space adventurers need.
During the viewing of Project Hail Mary, I laughed out loud, cried, gasped, and covered my eyes. It was the perfect combination of scientific space jargon, mystery, and joy that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the film. A movie that gracefully intersects reminds us about the value of exploration and the beauty of visuals on the big screen.
Plot synopsis
Project Hail Mary follows the story of a middle school science teacher and molecular biologist, Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), who NASA recruits to provide insight into a mysterious infrared arc of light connecting the Sun to Venus.
This fictional galactic discovery, called the “Petrova line,” marks the migration route of single-celled life forms called “astrophage,” which are slowly consuming the Sun and thereby dimming its light. The continuation of this will cool the Earth drastically within the next 30 years, causing a catastrophe that can halve the entire world population.
The story begins with a disgruntled Dr. Grace (played by Ryan Gosling) waking up from a medically induced coma, hurtling through space light-years away from Earth. He is completely alone and unaware of who he is, what he is doing there, and mystified by his randomly accumulated knowledge of how to operate the mechanics of a spaceship.
The narrative shifts between two timelines: flashbacks that gradually reveal the events leading up to the space expedition as Grace regains his memories and the present-day storyline, where he navigates life in space while confronting the broader conflict between humans and nature, rediscovering both his personality and abilities.
Manipulating science into a storyline
The mind behind this intricate storyline is author Andy Weir. He has solidified his reputation in the science-fiction world with his previous book, The Martian, which was also turned into a film adaptation starring none other than Academy Award winner Matt Damon.
Films centered around space exploration are often the highest-rated by both critics and audiences. Though I am not a regular science fiction and fantasy reader, a story like Project Hail Mary reinvigorates my appreciation of the intricately designed worlds that fiction authors create and the effort needed to ensure plot continuity and attempt scientific accuracy.
Astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology already stretch the limits of the human brain’s comprehension. Building a story around something that humanity knows so little about may seem easier than making a fictional world completely from scratch, but it is actually the contrary.
In an interview with Penguin Random House, Weir reveals that he used a legitimate exoplanet as the reference point for Rocky’s home. Data used in various calculations shown in the film, such as Erid’s distance to Earth, reflected actual data about the exoplanet recorded by scientists. Weir used other known characteristics, such as density, diameter, etc., to solidify intricacies around the narrative of Rocky and Erid.
He made assumptions based on this data to determine the Eridian species’ appearance, communication methods, and language. For example, because of Erid’s density and the way sound carries, he assumed Eridians would have a strong sense of echolocation, which makes sense for them to communicate musically, making a language out of chords.
He further adds that ensuring scientific accuracy almost always takes priority over the direction of the narrative. Continuity between the “fake” rules he created for the Project Hail Mary universe and the plausible scientific concepts is what makes the story so appealing and what really draws the audience in.
Ryan Gosling strikes again
Ryan Gosling absolutely shone in his role as Dr. Grace. He brought comic relief to the doomsday-centered storyline with his characterization, a sharp contrast to the professional affect and understandingly serious demeanor of his colleagues, who have carried the fate of the world on their shoulders since the beginning. Despite his outward appearance as a dorky science teacher who wears graphic periodic table t-shirts and his occasional lack of filter, he was entrusted with the task at hand.
A vulnerable moment was shown between crew members sharing a drink and singing karaoke. The head of the operation, Dr. Eva Strait (portrayed by Sandra Hüller), surprised us all by coming out of her shell and singing a rendition of “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles after a tender conversation with Dr. Grace, showing that she was not only of professional value to the team but an asset that altered the chemistry of the team for the better.
His warmth and quick wit added versatility to the story, offering something lighter and more personal than the usual doomsday tension and dark undertones found in many science-adventure films.
This aspect shines when he encounters a mysterious vessel and soon befriends an alien spider-rock, whom he names Rocky, of course.
Their unlikely partnership rejects outward societal fears of extraterrestrial beings. It affirms the message that there can be hidden comforts in unknown territory, and the situations that arise within them may lead to unlikely chains of events that can change your life for the better. Living beings are all living and feeling. We may not be as different from each other as we seem.
Audiences fell in love with the characters of Grace and Rocky first, and the narrative intrigue pulled them in for good. Their first interactions showed how fragile and beautiful language is and how communication is vital for our ability to respect and cooperate with other people, or in this case, extraterrestrial beings.
Their story is poignant. If anyone can have chemistry with a rock, it’s Ryan Gosling.
Existential cravings
Mysteries of the unknown are electrifying. As humans, we can hardly fathom the true vastness of our universe. Movies about space exploration cause our pupils to widen and our stomachs to drop. Sometimes I experience a similar sensation to when you are on a roller coaster, descending on your first drop.
Science fiction satisfies the need to entertain ideas of the purpose of humanity while creating an image of what is really “out there” in the universe. It intersects directly with the questions humanity seeks to answer about creation and existence, those that made storytelling, religion, and philosophy.
Science is undoubtedly connected to those two as well, which only increases the richness of the layers we can pull back to search for those answers ourselves. Combining the actual with the imaginary may get us one step closer to solving the mysteries of the world.
It takes courage to push our minds beyond the limits of the possible and imagine something greater than ourselves on this tiny celestial body we call home.