Science fiction, to me, always meant aliens, time travel, intergalactic battles, spaceships, and the like. That completely changed when I first watched Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. I cried my eyes out with all the emotional ups and downs I felt during the entire movie. After that, I realized sci-fi wasn't just about science and cool special effects; emotions could be brought in and made to work if done the right way. I had the same feeling when I first read Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary. As much as I enjoyed the plot of the book (yes, it is cool to save the Earth from dying), even more, I was rooting for the book's protagonists. And now I've gotten to watch the movie adaptation, and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
The story follows Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher (played by Ryan Gosling) tasked with saving Earth from global extinction. Microscopic organisms are consuming the Sun, causing it to dim and threatening to destroy the planet's ecosystem and economy. Grace eventually travels alone on the spaceship Hail Mary to investigate Tau Ceti, a star that appears immune to the phenomenon afflicting the Sun and nearby stars. He encounters someone on his journey and how it turns out is the core mystery and emotional anchor of the novel.
The adaptation of the characters was outstanding. Ryan Gosling's performance as Ryland was superb, even if he wasn't who I initially pictured for the lonely scientist. Sandra Hüller's portrayal of Eva Stratt was amazing, and Rocky's character couldn't have been more perfectly realized. Beyond the acting, the film's visual quality was stunning. The cinematography and VFX work that brought the space sequences to life were truly gorgeous and extremely well-shot.
Having read the book beforehand, I couldn't help but notice certain flaws in the film that casual viewers might overlook. While the movie successfully captured the book's comedic tone, many moments came across as overly cheesy and cringeworthy.
Furthermore, a significant issue was the portrayal of Ryland Grace. Although omitting extensive science and math explanations was a logical choice to prevent the film from becoming tedious, it diminished Grace's intellectual depth as depicted in the book. It felt as if the movie primarily highlighted Rocky's intelligence, with Grace merely following along, offering only sporadic moments of brilliance. Ultimately, the film seemed to significantly undersell Grace's intelligence.
The film's pacing was a significant issue for me, which inspired the review's title. Both the beginning and the end felt rushed, leaving many elements underdeveloped. The flashback sequence where Grace gradually regains his memory is crucial to understanding his character, brilliance, and overall role. Unfortunately, the movie omits Grace's vital inner dialogue during this time. This lack of character insight made the beginning feel hurried and overly focused on less essential scenes, though I recognize their purpose for a first-time viewer. Similarly, the climax and ending were sped up, failing to fully depict the struggle, motivation, and actions behind Grace's ultimate decision.
The middle section of the movie is very well made, largely due to the perfectly executed and amazing visuals, for which the team deserves significant credit. The film's initial 2-hour and 36-minute runtime felt too short, and I believe it should have been twice as long. Releasing a director's cut, much like Zack Snyder's Justice League, would not be a bad idea.
While I'm trying to move past the expectation that a movie adaptation must be a faithful, scene-for-scene reproduction of a book — which is a difficult task that forces cuts for runtime — I find that the film and the book are highly complementary. The movie is a satisfying experience on its own, while those who have read the book will appreciate the additional detail it provides.
I strongly recommend seeing Project Hail Mary, especially in IMAX, or even better, in 70mm IMAX if you are fortunate enough to have access. Overall, I can confidently declare that Project Hail Mary is a complete success.
After watching the movie, I found a very popular YouTube video where a real astrophysicist breaks down the science in both the Project Hail Mary book and movie. The video was fascinating, highlighting the extensive research that went into making the story feel simultaneously real and fictional. I always appreciate when authors go the extra mile to craft a highly believable narrative.