30/03/2026

LYFE MONDAY | MAR 30, 2026

25

MOVIE REVIEW

Cosmic fun with Project Hail Mary

o Space movie that dares to be sincere

cardigan feels like a new entry in what fans jokingly call the Gosling jacket cinematic universe, sitting alongside the scorpion bomber in Drive , the “I am Kenough” hoodie in Barbie , the Miami Vice stunt team jacket in The Fall Guy and the trench coat in Blade Runner 2049 . There is also something worth noting about Gosling’s career choices. He has an uncanny ability to pick good scripts. Even his smaller films tend to land better than most releases in a given year. It always starts with the writing. Rocky steals film The real heart of the film is Rocky. He is one of the most refreshing takes on a friendly alien in a long time. No face, no eyes and no traditional expressions. Audiences are still able to connect with him and humanise what is essentially a rock-like creature. Rocky is brought to life in three ways. Puppetry using a Bunraku style where multiple puppeteers operate him at once. Animatronics for moments where puppeteers cannot physically follow. CGI for the more complex shots. The result is something that feels real and grounded despite how unusual the character is. His relationship with Grace is the core of the film. Two lonely astronauts from different worlds on the same kind of mission, becoming best friends and working together to figure things out. It is simple and

Ű BY AMEEN HAZIZI

T HERE is something about Project Hail Mary that feels almost radical right now. It is sincere, earnest, whimsical, joyful and genuinely hopeful. This is a film that wants you to feel something good and it commits to that fully. In a landscape where space films often lean into cosmic horror or existential dread, this one goes the other way. Interstellar (2014) is ultimately hopeful but the cost is heartbreaking. Ad Astra (2019) leans into isolation and the idea that we might be alone. Project Hail Mary is different. It is fun, kind and easy to watch without ever feeling shallow. It is also one of those rare films that can be enjoyed by almost every demographic. Kids can watch it and engage with it without feeling like they are being talked down to. Adults can appreciate the science and emotional weight. It sits in that very specific space of being adult entertainment that is still accessible. Gosling’s reluctant hero Ryan Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a smart and kind man who wants to do good. But he is also cowardly. He struggles with human connection and has no real relationships or meaningful ties back on Earth. That actually makes the journey easier for him. Even if he goes back, what does he have waiting? The film leans into this instead of trying to turn him into a conventional hero. You are supposed to feel uncomfortable with his reluctance. You are supposed to question it. That emotional conflict is the point. Gosling is clearly having fun here. This is closer to the whimsical, funny energy he brought to Barbie (2023), The Nice Guys (2016) and The Fall Guy (2024). At the same time, he still carries the emotional depth seen in Drive (2011) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). He has always had range but this film really lets him use all of it. Also, a small but memorable detail is his wardrobe. Grace’s fox

The cockpit is mounted on a mechanical rig that can tilt and rotate, simulating shifting gravity conditions during flight.

it works. There is even a change from the book that reflects this. In the novel, Rocky has extra fuel because his species does not understand relativity. In the film, he extends his journey by six years just to save Grace. The former is stronger worldbuilding. The latter is stronger storytelling. Both approaches work but the film clearly prioritises emotional impact. Visuals, sound and craft Visually, this is one of the most interesting blockbusters in recent years. The film uses aspect ratios in a considered way. Space scenes open up into a full frame, giving everything a larger than life feel. Flashbacks on Earth are letterboxed, making them feel more grounded and even a bit bleak. A lot of the film is built practically. The spacecraft is a full set that actors can move through. The cockpit rotates and shifts to simulate gravity changes. There is little reliance on green or blue screen. That physicality comes through on screen. The camerawork also stands out. It feels thoughtful and at times, surprisingly unique for a film of

Rocky ‘sees’ through echolocation, forcing Grace to rethink how to interact with a being that perceives the world through sound rather than sight.

this scale. Daniel

choose optimism. The film also proves that you can have high stakes without moral greyness dominating every character. Grace is a classic hero figure. Someone to look up to, admire and enjoy without constantly questioning his intentions. It is also part of a broader shift. Moving away from irony and cynicism towards something more sincere. A rejection of that old nihilistic mindset and a willingness to engage with stories that actually care about their characters and their world. Film worth experiencing properly This is one of those films that benefits from being seen in a cinema. The scale, the visuals and the sound design all come together in a way that feels overwhelming at times. It is not just spectacle for the sake of it. It enhances the story. It is also one of those rare adaptations that feels faithful while still elevating the source material. It understands what worked in the book and builds on it. By the end, the film leaves a clear impression. It makes you feel like the world is worth fighting for. It reminds you why you love film in the first place. Project Hail Mary is not trying to reinvent science fiction. It is doing something else. It is reminding audiences that wonder, curiosity and connection still matter.

Pemberton’s score deserves special mention. It stands among the most distinctive in recent years, built around rare instruments, such as the glass harmonica and ondes martenot. The result does more than accompany the film. It actively shapes how you feel, shifting between wonder, beauty, discomfort and even confusion. It works. There is also a small detail that Malaysian audiences might pick up on. The Jalur Gemilang appears on the Project Hail Mary mission patch. It raises questions. Is Malaysia a major contributor in this fictional project? Is it meant to represent Southeast Asia? There is no clear answer but it is still a nice inclusion. Story that embraces feeling At its core, Project Hail Mary is a simple story. A lonely astronaut goes on a one-way mission to save the world, meets another lonely astronaut from a different species and they work together to solve a problem and try to get home. Like Andy Weir’s writing, it may not always be elegant at a sentence level but it is incredibly engaging. That is what matters here. There has been a lot of noise around films like this, with some people dismissing them for being too sincere or too hopeful. That criticism feels misplaced. Not everything needs to be cynical or pretentious. There is value in stories that

Gosling trains with science consultants to better ground the technical dialogue and classroom scenes.

0 Director: Phil Lord and Chris Miller 0 Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara, Liz Kingsman, Mia Soteriou, Orion Lee E-VALUE 10 ACTING 9 PLOT 10

Lighting in the space sequences uses harsh, directional sources to mirror real conditions, with minimal reliance on green screen to preserve a more physical look.