I skipped the closing film at SXSW this year and instead attended the screening of Project Hail Mary. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—how could a story about one guy and a rock-like alien carry an entire movie without becoming boring or losing its heart? It seemed like the kind of idea that might look good on paper but could fall flat on screen. Surprisingly, by the time the credits rolled, I was completely hooked. It turned out to be much more exciting, touching, and just plain fun than I expected. I loved it.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling, the film follows a man who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As his memories gradually come back, he realizes he’s on a desperate mission to save Earth from a catastrophic threat. Along the way, he meets an unexpected ally—an alien he later names Rocky—and what happens next becomes the core of the film.
From my perspective, what makes this movie so special is how deeply personal it feels despite the large, high-stakes premise. At its core, it’s not just about saving humanity—it’s about connection, trust, and figuring things out when you’re completely alone. Watching that relationship between a human and a completely non-human intelligence develop is genuinely fascinating. There’s humor, tension, and a surprising amount of warmth in their interactions, and I found myself fully invested in every moment they shared.
Ryan Gosling absolutely carries this film, and I do not say that lightly. He spends much of the runtime essentially acting opposite a CGI character that, at its simplest, is an animated pile of rocks. Yet, through his performance, that relationship feels genuine, emotional, and even tender at times. His ability to react, adapt, and create chemistry with something that isn’t physically present is, honestly, remarkable. He’s funny, vulnerable, and captivating from start to finish.
The set pieces and CGI are nothing short of perfection. The visuals are stunning without ever feeling overwhelming or distracting. Everything serves the story, and the design of Rocky in particular is brilliantly realized—alien in every sense, yet somehow expressive and endearing.
If I have one small critique, it would be the last 30 seconds, which felt a bit too cheesy and neat, and frankly, out of sync with the rest of the film’s tone. But honestly, it’s a minor issue in an otherwise completely engaging experience. The film runs close to two and a half hours and still, I would watch it again.
This is one of those rare films where big ideas, emotional storytelling, and performances all come together beautifully. And at the heart of it all is Gosling, proving he can carry an entire film—even when his co-star is, quite literally, a pile of rocks.