Project Hail Mary
I had intended to see this in the theater when it first came out. Since I saw The Martian and loved it, I’ve been an Andy Weir fan. He writes the books and then great movies are made from them. I haven’t read Artemis, which is his third book that the IMDB says is in production. CFR and I had intended to see it in the theater but somehow never connected, which is strange considering I’m retired and have loads of free time. But now I’m glad the first time seeing this was at home on a small screen, because I feel like the experience would have been a bit overwhelming on a big screen with big sound. Also, it’s very long and being able to hit pause is a thing I’ve gotten used to in my old age.
Unfortunately, I’m seeing something in Andy Weir that I saw with Dan Brown, the guy who wrote The DaVinci Code. He turned out to be a bit of a one trick pony, writing stories that are really fun but have a lot in common with each other. I enjoyed Brown’s one trick, and I enjoy Weir’s one trick so I’m not complaining. Sometimes it’s fine to know what you’re getting up front, kinda like a Jason Stathem movie.
The story is simple, like The Martian but is intricate to tell. A middle school teacher named Grace is sent into deep space to try and find a way to combat a space bug that is eating Earth’s sun. He’s very, very smart, but he’s no hero and he’s certainly no pilot. When he wakes from the induced coma (for the long trip), he discovers his crewmates dead and his memories gone. It doesn’t take long to meet the other life form looking for answers to the voracious space bug and they team up. Just as soon as they learn to speak to each other.
While watching I made a bit of a list for similarities with The Martian. Cutting off a too long beard, missing cohort, solitude in a hostile environment, smart but not actually trained for the environment, writing out thoughts with a large Sharpie, catastrophic beginning to his solitude, tangled space rope, and the overriding theme that space is dangerous full stop. That was a few, and then there is my favorite trick, Weir is great at setting up seemingly impossible to solve problems and then showing the hero taking the whole thing on one bit at a time. With science! I love that particular trick. Where The Martian has tech that is feasible in our near future, this movie is way more far seeing. That became one of my problems.
I didn’t always follow what Grace was doing. I think that may be a directorial difference between Ridley Scott and Christopher Miller, and it was not a huge deal overall so I’m just going to get over it. Just as Matt Damon was perfect for the previous film, I really enjoyed Ryan Gosling in this one. They both have a gee shucks boy next door thing going, but Gosling also had to sell the fish out of water cowardly lion thing more.
Then there’s the whole learning how to communicate with a totally new species aspect. Again, Weir takes a seemingly insurmountable problem and makes it seem doable. Think about it for a few seconds. First contact is more than just learning each other’s words. What is their means of communication (if any)? Telepahy? Sound? Light? Color? Body movements? Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra? Some way we cannot detect? It makes a bit more sense that Grace is a teacher and so used to dealing with alien lifeforms. And again, Weir breaks it down and makes it seem possible, though I found this to be the weakest part. It made for many humorous moments, but it was weak. That also didn’t bother me a lot, because showing that sort of thing would be too much of an ask for a typical movie watcher.
I noticed that I finally began to fully enjoy the film once the story veers toward the science instead of following Grace around in his undies. I was amazed at the amount of emotion that came through both in the storyline and Gosling’s performance. He cried several times, and I was right there with him. It astonishes me that someone who makes science the central core of his stories also strikes very emotional beats that make sense and tug super hard at the heart strings.
This is my second favorite Andy Weir film (echoing a joke from the film), and I ended up liking it very much. Could it be a bit shorter? Sure. I think the major differences is the director. Ridley Scott’s movie is more grounded in somewhat current technology and definitely has a stellar soundtrack. This film does not. So, I’m glad I finally watched it, but I kinda doubt I will again. I absolutely recommend seeing this, because it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you proud to be an Earthling.
Triggers: very tense situations
Available on: Prime Video, Fubo, MGM channel
LINKS:
CFR: In Addition
I love this movie. It is deeply emotional and loving. And kind. So much that I want to see, and I think others love too. In fact, for me this moving is an emotional roller coaster with a HUGE joyous payoff at the end. For those of us who LOVE our friends and consider them FAMILY, this movie is beyond perfect. FAMILY LOVE is good too. Oh and teachers! A teacher is the main hero in this movie and yes his scientific brain saves the day. Teachers Rule.
Thank you, Ryan Gosling, producers, writers, director. Thank you for this magnificent, emotional, adventurous movie. Thanks for actually liking and respecting women. Thanks for Rocky and his love, love of his wife, and joy and Amaze! Finally thank you so much for the scene below. Loss, longing, deep longing. Freaking amazing. Thank you, Cranky for reviewing.
Just watch this movie. It is Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!
Effing Epic Singing OMG Thank You
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