A lingering question on many people’s minds is how far one would go to save the world. Whether that means devoting time, risking their lives, or worse–betraying a friend. Ryland Grace was no hero. Until he was forced to become one. Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi film that was released in theaters this past March. It became an unforeseen blockbuster. As an adaptation of Andy Weir’s book, also the author of The Martian, it follows two individuals trying to save the world. Or rather, a human and an alien.
The Earth is dying. Astrophage–a microorganism parasite that feeds on solar energy–is plaguing stars in space, including the Sun. To prevent the end of the world in 30 years, scientists put all of their faith in one man: a middle school teacher. Ryland Grace lacks confidence. But he wants to help. So, he studies Astrophage and becomes heavily involved with the project. Grace ends up becoming one of the astronauts sent to space to discover why, out of all the stars dying, Tau Ceti–a star outside the solar system–is the only one thriving. He ends up being the only survivor once they reach the star, though it’s not explicitly stated why. There, he discovers that despite his loss, he’s not alone; Grace encounters an alien whom he names Rocky. The two slowly bond, forming a strong friendship. It’s a cute and emotional story that will make viewers sob.
The plot questions the moral ambiguity of humans and the ethics behind saving the world. So many of the characters in the film are morally gray. They’re not plastic. They’re human. In Project Hail Mary, there’s a character who betrays Grace to save the world. But it costs their friendship. Grace also experiences a lot of character growth. He doesn’t want to be a hero. But he changes, and in the end, he willingly becomes one. Throughout the film, Grace builds his confidence. It gets to the point where he becomes the very thing he tried to avoid: brave. Complimented for its story, the movie accurately portrays the message the book was trying to convey to readers. It also does something Hollywood rarely does; it defies the common perception of space in films.
When one thinks of the universe depicted in films, they often think of a black and void pit with white specks spontaneously placed. And they’re right. In most space movies, the space scenes are boring and only created to drive the plot forward. But Project Hail Mary changes that. With the incorporation of unique cinematic elements, the space scenes are visually stunning. The orange and green color schemes, special effects, and physical sets are just perfect. Combining beautiful cinematography and an impactful story is really what makes the film what it is: a masterpiece.
Project Hail Mary is a great film. It deserves the fame that both book fans and new fans give it. With the success of The Martian as a movie adaptation, there was most certainly a lot of pressure for this film. And it did not disappoint. Most of the credit goes towards the plot and cinematography choices. Of course, not everything from the book is in the film. But it’s pretty close. With the surge of movie adaptations, Project Hail Mary shows that books can have great movies. If it’s done right.
