An Interstellar Triumph: “Project Hail Mary” blends humor, science and fantastic cinematography into an unforgettable story

Like many high school students, I am usually way too busy to sit down and watch a movie.

So, as I walked into a 4:40 p.m. showing of “Project Hail Mary,” which came out March 20, I was already stressing about the growing to-do list of chemistry homework and volunteer applications I would have to tackle after the screening.

Fortunately for me I quickly forgot about everything besides the movie. 

The opening scene of the main character, Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, stumbling around a spaceship immediately caught my attention.

“Project Hail Mary” is a science fiction film based on the 2021 best-selling sci-fi book of the same name by Andy Weir. It is an immersive and fascinating watch that's entertaining for even the most uninterested viewers.

The film follows Grace, a former-renowned scientist turned middle school science teacher, as he gets pulled into an international scheme to stop a sun-eating microorganism and save the planet.

The first thing that caught my attention was the immense detail of the set.

From the various calculations on the Hail Mary's whiteboards to the thousands of screens surrounding the pilot's chair, the spaceship was fascinating to look at, and quickly pulled me into the story.​

The excellence of the set design continued throughout the entire film— especially in flashback scenes, another element the film nailed.

The movie utilizes these flashback scenes between Grace on the Hail Mary spaceship and his time before the mission masterfully to develop characters and worldbuilding.

Gosling's acting is especially impressive in these flashbacks. Over the ten years in which the movie takes place, Grace noticeably evolves, whether it be his ability to form deep bonds with others to his dialogue subtly becoming more solemn and serious​ over the span of the movie.

Showing a character's subtle evolution throughout over a decade-long span of time is a difficult feat, but Gosling is able to pull it off almost casually.

The film also uses various tints throughout different scenes to help the viewer clearly differentiate between time periods and the tone of the scene.​

Recently, it feels as if all movies have the same generic coloring. They’re bland, dark, and they feel monotonous and forgettable. “Project Hail Mary” does not fall victim to this phenomenon.

The colors in the film are breathtaking, especially for a film that takes place primarily in a white, sterile spaceship. There are countless scenes that are filled with bright, mesmerising colors and lights that made me gaze at the screen in awe. 

​In addition to lively colors, the mix of witty dialogue paired with emotional scenes and heavy moments keeps the film engaging throughout the entire runtime.

By far, my favorite part of the movie was watching the characters' relationships develop.​

There is a wide range of relationship types and dynamics, from friendship to betrayal and obvious romantic tension. The dynamics all work to keep the movie unpredictable and intriguing.

Every actor manages to convey convincing chemistry that makes the film feel alive, and they all manage to disappear into their roles seamlessly. Even A-lister Gosling is extremely convincing in his role. His comedic timing in the film is immaculate and he rattles off scientific formulas as if he has a biology doctorate.

Even if you're a busy highschooler with a million other tasks to complete “Project Hail Mary’s”  beautiful colors, meaningful dialogue and an excellent storyline will make it well worth your time.