Project Hail Mary

Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes from a coma on a spaceship with amnesia.  He is the sole survivor on a desperate, one-way mission to save humanity.  He learns that a space-faring microorganism, Astrophage, is draining the Sun’s energy, threatening an imminent ice age. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Grace, a former molecular biologist turned middle-school teacher, was forced into this mission to the Tau Ceti system—the only nearby star unaffected by the phenomenon.

“Project Hail Mary is the unique kind of triumph that you can recommend to everyone. Even idiots. Especially idiots. Idiots need to see this movie so that they learn: Respecting and celebrating people who are smarter than you isn’t a sign of weakness. It is a blessing. It is a gift. Geniuses have the weight of the whole world on their shoulders. Simpletons in suits across the globe are currently tearing the social order apart because they would prefer that machines do the thinking. Even if it was only for a few hours, it was nice to watch a celebration of what organic gray matter can do.” – Ryan Syrek, The Reader

 

“[Ryan] Gosling, as always, is the perfect balance of comedic and committed. The film’s themes of love and loyalty are strong enough to draw a sniffle from even the most stone-faced audience member. The soundtrack rivals Guardians of the Galaxy for a space-based retro good time — particularly the traditional farewell song Po Ataru, sang by the Turakina Maori Girls’ Choir at a particularly emotional farewell moment. And most importantly, Project Hail Mary is what you want from a movie: It’s smart, and it’s fun. What more could you ask for?” – Jackson Weaver, CBC News

“Project Hail Mary is everything we admire and deserve from the sci-fi genre. It’s amazing how such a simple tale of bravery and friendship can feel so transcendent in the right hands.” – Austin Burke, Flick Fan Nation