What would you do if you woke up in deep space with amnesia? This is the nightmare that Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, is facing in the movie Project Hail Mary. Ryland is just a regular science teacher who ends up on a mission to save the sun from dying in order to save humanity. So if you like movies where the main character has to use their brain to survive, put Project Hail Mary at the top of your list. The movie starts with a man, Ryland, who wakes up in a high-tech room with no memory of how he got there or who he is, making you learn the stakes at the same time as him. It turns out that the mysterious guy in the beginning is Ryland, the regular science teacher, who is the only one left to save the earth.
Ryan Gosling is the reason that this movie works. Because he is alone for much of the film, the story relies on his personality. He perfectly balances the scared-of-death human side and the cool under pressure side. Every time Ryland remembers something from his past on earth, it feels like putting a puzzle piece together. The movie is visually stunning. A fun fact to note is that there was no use of a green screen in the movie. The entire ship is a set that was built, making the ship feel cramped and realistic.
Project Hail Mary does not rely on explosions to keep you interested. It instead relies on curiosity and the idea that being smart is a superpower. Ryland soon discovers that he is not the only one trying to save their planet. The communication and chemistry between him and his unexpected ally is the highlight of the film. It is fascinating to watch them learn to understand each other through math and science. Beneath the complex equations is a deeply moving story about friendship and the lengths we would go to for the sake of others.
Overall, Project Hail Mary is a total blast. It shows that you do not need superpowers or big explosions to be a hero, you just need to be smart and never give up. It’s a movie that makes science look cool, and the visuals are absolutely amazing. It also proves that making a friend in deep space can save your life. So if you like all of those things, you should definitely check the movie out.
