Translating Andy Weir’s genius onto the big screen can be a daunting task. The “Project Hail Mary” book, especially, is packed with precise physics calculations, innovative astrobiological ideas and intricate storytelling told in flashbacks to maximize emotional intensity. If butchered, the film would look pitiful for failing to reach the great potentials it was set up for. Yet, for fans of the novel, a movie adaptation seemed essential. Scenes from the book needed to be actualized, from the inner workings of the Hail Mary ship to Rocky’s appearance and various gadgets. Anticipation heightened as March 20, the release date for “Project Hail Mary” the movie, crept closer.
The story of “Project Hail Mary” follows Ryland Grace, a middle school teacher who finds himself stranded alone in outer space. As he regains his memory through flashbacks of his life on Earth and what this space mission means for humanity, Grace makes an unexpected yet pivotal encounter while orbiting the star system Tau Ceti.
The film for “Project Hail Mary” is 2 hours 36 minutes, yet it is pretty much as concise as it can be. Scientific explanations are kept brief yet informative, failing to delve deeply into the principles but keeping just enough to maintain a logical plot.
“A lot of the science you can explain in a textbook, but you can’t really illustrate it on the screen,” AP Macroeconomics and AP Psychology teacher Jeffrey Owen said. “[For] a lot of the science, they show you how it happens, but they don’t explain the background, so it doesn’t have the same depth. But as far as [the] storyline goes, it was basically the same [as the book].”
In place of the book’s scientific deep dives, the movie enhances the emotional build-up throughout the storyline. But when the film reaches its climax, it falls short. Flashback sequences feel misplaced, the dialogue is rushed and lacking (especially compared to the book) and the big plot twist did not feel significant enough.
Visually, however, the film was stunning. From swirling galaxies sprawled across the vast, dark cosmos, to Grace’s first trek through the ominous Xenonite tunnel connecting Hail Mary and Blip-A, the cinematography was masterful. These scenes are best viewed in a movie theater atmosphere.
“I really liked the scene when they go and use the chain to try and catch the astrophage when they’re on the planet [Adrian],” Owen said. “I thought that was really exciting.”
Casting Ryan Gosling as main character Ryland Grace was nothing short of perfect. Gosling portrays Grace’s character accurately: his corny humor, his chaotic nerdiness, his moments of cowardice. In all the right moments, Gosling is able to convey emotions genuinely, immersing viewers in Grace’s journey. That being said, the script failed to fully flesh out Grace’s character development towards the end.
Rocky (James Ortiz) the Eridian alien is also well designed. Instead of using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), the directors decided to make Rocky a puppet controlled by a team of six puppeteers. This helped both Rocky himself as a character and the interactions between Grace and Rocky feel more real. His dialogue, voice and gestures were spot-on compared to the book. Sometimes when reading, it was difficult to imagine Rocky’s exact movements and behaviors, but the film truly brings him to life.
Conversely, the character of Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) felt lacking, especially when compared to her book version. In the movie, she fell short of the authoritarian dictator role she was supposed to embody. Her power, ruthlessness, efficiency and disregard for all nations’ governments was not fully conveyed. The film shows more of Stratt’s “soft side,” which would have had much more emotional value if held in contrast to her usual coldness, which was largely missing.
With a time and budget limit, many parts of the book are severely shortened or altogether left out. Though the plot’s backbone remains untouched, the omission of some characters and conversations might disappoint avid fans of the novel. For example, the film did not include climatologist turned global warming inflictor Francois Leclerc and imprisoned engineer Robert Redell. The few changes and additions made to the plot were generally understandable, and some even enhanced the emotional aspect of the story or made the ending feel more conclusive.
Those who enjoy science fiction, space movies and any theories of extraterrestrial life will love this film, but they should still read the book to fully experience the world of “Project Hail Mary.”
As the “Project Hail Mary” movie reaps a week of success in box offices, it seems that Weir’s books receive the movie adaptations they deserve (albeit, this is only the second, after “The Martian” in 2015). After leaving theaters, viewers might look up at the night sky with newfound inspiration. Who knows that truly lies out there?
4.6/5
