MOVIE REVIEW: PROJECT HAIL MARY

 

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he soon discovers he must solve the riddle behind a mysterious substance that's causing the sun to die out. As details of the mission unravel, he calls on his scientific training and sheer ingenuity -- but he may not have to do it alone.

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara, Liz Kingsman

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.

Runtime: 2h 36m

Review:

Project Hail Mary is easy to enjoy blockbuster that melds 2001 with E.T. that’s powered by impressive visuals and stellar turn from Ryan Gosling that propels the film to impressive heights.  Phil Lord and Chris Miller deliver a solid combination of emotion and large-scale visuals that make for more than a handful of dazzling moments.  Interspacing flashbacks throughout gives the film a slow reveal of the plot that works well since Gosling’s character awakens in a state of semi amnesia.  The slow rolls out does more to flesh out the character than it does to provide any real surprises as to how he ended up on the ship in the first place.   Those flashbacks give Sandra Hüller time to flex her impressive dramatic muscle as she delivers a rather textured turn as the mysterious woman tasked with trying to save the Earth who recruits Gosling’s, school teacher, Ryland Grace.  Hüller and Gosling share strong chemistry together which leaves you wishing the film had given their relationship just a tad more time to germinate especially since they both working off each incredibly well.  Lionel Boyce’s officer Carl also could have used more screentime as well since they also work off each other with a naturalistic ease that really speaks to their fast friendship.  It’s a minor issue but considering the film’s sizable length it would have been great to have those relationships fleshed out a bit more especially since both performers are begging for more to do.  That being said, this film is carried from start to finish by Ryan Gosling’s multi-faceted turn that makes the entire thing so incredibly watchable.  Gosling is in rare form here as he seamlessly shuffles through a series of emotions over the course of the film.  It’s a particularly impressive since he’s working with a puppet for the majority of the time in the form of his alien counterpart Rocky.  The fact that their relationship comes through as genuine and believable is a testament to his talent and the vocal work from lead puppeteer, James Ortiz.  Their relationship plays out like an older version of Elliot and E.T.’s relationship from the Spielberg classic with much more collaboration at play as they try to save their respective worlds.  Their bromance is fun and heartfelt enough that you won’t mind too much that your heartstrings are being purposely pulled for maximum “aww” effect.  It’s not a terribly complicated or revelatory story but Gosling provides so much depth to his accidental, coerced hero that you can’t help but get enveloped in their journey even if Project Hail Mary has nearly as many false endings as Return of the King.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE ZONE OF INTEREST

 

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

Director: Jonathan Glazer

Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Ralph Herforth, Daniel Holzberg, Sascha Maaz, Freya Kreutzkam

Release Date: February 2, 2024

Genre: Drama, History, War

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some suggestive material and smoking.

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest is a fascinating study in subtle insinuation of horrific events juxtaposed against the seemingly mundane.  Glazer's distinctive style gives the film an almost clinical detachment from the central family and characters as the audience follows their day to day lives.  It’s unnervingly routine even as smatterings of screams and gunshots linger in the background as the family enjoys parties or birthday celebrations.  Small tidbits or comments from the family members as the film progresses exemplifies the level of causal complicity to horror show playing out over the walls.  Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller play the Höss couple with a lived in authenticity of a pair of people who have been together for a decent amount of time.  If not for the discussions about building a new crematorium or rifling through people's luxurious belongings from the camp, they'd feel like an average couple trying to raise their kids.  The film doesn't shy away from the fact that the evil seeps into the aforementioned children even if they don't have direct exposure to it.  The film is methodical in its approach which may not make it the most accessible experience for the causal movie goer since it doesn't hold your hand and its finale is sure to confounding its share of viewers.  The Zone of Interest isn't an easy film for a variety of reasons, but it is the kind of film that will linger in your mind long after you've watched it.

A-