"Project 'End of the World'" with Ryan Gosling — why you will definitely like this sentimental sci-fi

Photo: frame from the trailer

Few writers believe in science as much as American Andy Weir. Back in 2011, he wrote the bestseller "The Martian" — a story about how scientific knowledge saved astronaut Mark Watney, who was left on Mars for several years. In 2015, "The Martian" was adapted into a film. You might have seen that Ridley Scott film starring Matt Damon, where he grew potatoes on Mars — an optimistic, hopeful film about human strength.

In 2021, Weir released the novel "Project 'Hail Mary'," and this is a story about a world awaiting an apocalypse. Strange microbes appear in the Solar System that feed on solar energy, meaning the Sun will soon become much colder. After this, it will become cold on Earth, crop problems will begin, and many people will die.

There is, however, a grim hope. Scientists see that although many other stars also suffer from this cosmic infection, the Sun-like star Tau Ceti has somehow been spared from it. The best minds on Earth could not come up with anything better than sending a spacecraft there with three astronauts, who must figure out on the spot what is saving Tau Ceti, and then heroically perish in space, because they cannot be given fuel for the return journey.

Among those astronauts was a simple biology teacher, Ryland Grace. To his misfortune, he holds a doctorate and once wrote a dissertation on extraterrestrial organisms that exist without water in their composition. Therefore, Grace is drawn into a project that will take him 12 light-years from Earth and grant him arguably the most unusual friendship in recent science fiction — but more on that later.

Павялічыць

Photo: frame from the trailer

It became clear that the book would be adapted into a film as early as 2020, before its publication — then Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio snatched the film adaptation rights for three million dollars in a battle with competitors. On March 26, the film is released in Belarusian distribution — though, for some reason, under the title "Project 'End of the World'."

The screenwriters treated the book with respect, but removed many scientific details that Weir so loves. But even with this, the filmmakers needed two and a half hours to tell the story — that's how long the film runs.

In the foreground of the film is top Hollywood star Ryan Gosling, who plays Ryland Grace. Most of the film is a performance by Gosling alone, as he found himself by himself in the Tau Ceti system.

But "Project 'End of the World'" is not just a film about loneliness; it's also a film about friendship. Its creators deliberately spoiled another character in the trailer, central to this story, just like Grace. We're talking about Rocky — a small alien with stony tentacles and no face. As Grace aptly notes, faces are overrated.

Павялічыць

Photo: frame from the trailer

Rocky arrives at Tau Ceti with the same mission as Grace: he needs to save his home star from cosmic microbes. Rocky and Grace look different, live in different atmospheres, and have absolutely different languages. But, driven to despair by loneliness, they find friendship in each other. And suddenly it turns out that science, of course, helps save the world, but together with friendship, it all works much better.

The character Rocky was created using a puppet and computer graphics, so it's clear that Gosling had to act without a scene partner. And it's all the more surprising how he managed to create the chemistry felt between him and Rocky, and to hold attention for an hour and a half, acting with a puppet for company.

In the film, however, there is also a less unambiguous character than Grace and Rocky. This is Eva Stratt, the head of the very "Project 'Hail Mary'" that must save our Sun. Where Grace can allow himself doubts, Stratt must be an unyielding politician, although it is clearly not easy for her to make decisions vital for saving the world. Her character in the film is responsible for ethical questions: what is allowed to be done when the fate of humanity rests on your shoulders?

Павялічыць

Photo: frame from the trailer

"Project 'End of the World'" is often compared to "Interstellar" – another space saga about an astronaut leaving Earth to save humanity from an apocalypse. And there's a belief that its creators managed an anti-"Interstellar." Instead of scientific details — jokes and chemistry between characters; instead of pathos and heroism — a simple man who didn't want any of this, but simply has no way back.

In its first weekend at the global box office, "Project 'End of the World'" earned $141 million, and so far, this is the highest-grossing debut of the year. Gosling's benefit surpassed previous genre competitors, including "The Martian" and "Interstellar."

Critics, like early viewers, are unanimous about the film. 95% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, 8.5 out of 10 on the major resource IMDb — most blockbusters can only dream of this. Meanwhile, viewers are sharing their enthusiasm on social media — here are just a few reviews from Threads:

"Didn't watch the trailer beforehand, really liked it. Delight, delight, delight."

"A good, captivating film."

"Magnificent, first time I shed so many tears from laughter."

Usually, high ratings on international platforms are achieved by either cult classics or complex philosophy like "Interstellar," but we've already established that this isn't the case here. So where does this popular love come from?

It's all because the modern viewer is tired of cynical and overly philosophical cinema that leaves you with an internal crisis. "Project 'Hail Mary'" is a different film, filled to the brim with hope and belief in the better, making it appealing to both sci-fi fans and more casual viewers. And the convincing way it speaks to these different viewers makes this film an event.

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