I’ll be honest… I probably shouldn’t have been at the cinema that day.
I was deep in the throes of a truly miserable stomach flu. The kind that drains you completely — vomiting, body aches, relentless fatigue, and an absolute refusal from your body to accept food or joy of any kind. Sitting upright felt like a challenge. Walking felt ambitious. Watching a nearly three-hour film in the cinema? Questionable at best.
And yet, there I was, stubbornly making my way to the preview screening of Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi blockbuster based on the best-selling book by Andy Weir. Because sometimes, you just know a film is going to be something special, and there was no way I was going to miss this one.
Looking back now, it might have been one of the best bad decisions I’ve ever made.
Because what unfolded on screen wasn’t just a sci-fi film… it was an experience. One that completely overrode the physical misery I was in, transporting me somewhere far beyond the discomfort of my own body.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say this is one of the most emotionally resonant sci-fi epics I’ve seen in years. Films like Gravity, Interstellar and Arrival come to mind, not just for their scale, but for their ability to ground big, existential ideas in deeply human storytelling. Project Hail Mary belongs in that conversation. It’s thoughtful, it’s intimate, and it makes you care deeply about every character you meet.
Even the ones who don’t speak. Even the ones who don’t have a face.
Now, a small confession: I’ve never really considered myself a die-hard fan of Ryan Gosling. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed his performances in films like the artsy Only God Forgives, the infectious La La Land, and the visually stunning Blade Runner 2049 (though I’ll admit Harrison Ford had a lot to do with that one for me). But I’ve never walked into a film thinking, “This is a Gosling performance I need to see.”
That might have just changed.
As Ryland Grace, Gosling delivers something unexpectedly layered. He starts off as a slightly awkward, almost reluctant figure: a junior high school teacher thrust into something far bigger than himself. But as the story unfolds, so does he. What we get is a gradual, compelling transformation into a hero who doesn’t quite fit the traditional mould. He’s flawed, uncertain, sometimes even afraid, but that’s exactly what makes him so real.
And that’s what makes you root for him.
Every challenge he faces, every decision he struggles with — it all feels earned. Even in my half-delirious, flu-ridden state, I found myself completely invested in his journey. At some point, I forgot how sick I was. I was just… there with him.
Another standout performance for me comes from Sandra Hüller, who plays Eva Stratt, the no-nonsense project leader behind the mission. She brings a quiet intensity to the role: stoic, calculating, but never devoid of humanity. There’s a weight to her presence that grounds the film, especially when the stakes spiral into the unimaginable.
But let’s be real… the true star of this film isn’t human.
It’s Rocky.
Rocky, the alien companion Grace encounters on his interstellar journey, is nothing short of extraordinary. What could have easily been a gimmick becomes the emotional core of the entire film. Despite being faceless and at least initially, voiceless, Rocky is imbued with so much personality, warmth, and even humour that you can’t help but fall in love.
Their relationship — unexpected, unconventional, and profoundly sincere — is what elevates Project Hail Mary from a great sci-fi film into something truly unforgettable.
There are moments between them that will make you laugh out loud. Moments that will catch you off guard with their tenderness. And yes, moments that will hit you right in the chest when you least expect it.
I’ll admit it: I teared up at some points in the movie.
Somewhere between the nausea and the emotional overwhelm, I realised something… this wasn’t just a story about saving the world. It was a story about connection. About trust. About friendship in its purest, most unlikely form.
And maybe that’s why it resonated so deeply.
Because at its core, Project Hail Mary isn’t really about space, or science, or even survival. It’s about the bonds we form, especially when we’re at our most vulnerable.
So did I enjoy the film, despite being arguably at my physical worst?
Let me put it this way, there’s only one way to answer that:
“Amaze. Amaze. Amaze.”
One final note: if you’re planning to watch this (and you absolutely should), do yourself a favour, catch it on IMAX. This is a film that demands scale. The vastness of space, the intricate details of the mission, the sheer visual spectacle — it all deserves to be experienced in its fullest form.
Trust me. Even if you’re not sick, it’ll still take your breath away.
Project Hail Mary opens in cinemas, including Shaw Theatres, from 19 March onwards.
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