Displaying items by tag: Ryan Gosling

PROJECT HAIL MARY

US, 2026, 157 minutes, Colour.

Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, Ken Leung, voices of: James Ortiz, Ray Porter, Meryl Streep.

Directed by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller.

It is a very interesting commentary on 2026 audiences that Project Hail Mary was so immediately successful at the box office, not only in the United States, but worldwide. Which raises the questions about what has drawn the audiences, the themes, science, space exploration and cosmic threats. Or is it issue of heroism, somebody underestimating themselves, challenged, forced, to take on something that they think is beyond them? Probably both.

With its vast theme, Project Hail Mary can be seen in the line of the very serious space films of the last 60 years, beyond the small budget science fiction, beyond the serious action thrillers like the Alien films, going back to 1968 and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and later films like Interstellar, Gravity, Ad Astra.

For those not with the scientific bent, like the present reviewer, this story can be quite bewildering at times, the viewer experiencing that they are not on the wavelength of the details of the mission and its meaning, but realising that it is important to surrender to the atmosphere and what it is suggesting.

And the screenplay demands attention, an opening where the scientist on the space ship awakes from coma, his companions dead, realising that he has to finish this mission by himself. And, as he begins to accomplish the seemingly impossible, there are the flashbacks for his personality, an opinionated scientist, clashing with authorities, teaching in school, summoned by experts, refusing the mission, abducted and sent.

The scientist, with a significant surname, Grace, is played engagingly by Ryan Gosling, by himself for most of the action, but finding a strange companion, rock-shaped (and his being called Rocky), voiced by Jamie Ortiz, becoming a collaborator and friend in the mission. On earth, the chief scientist for the project is played by German actress, Sandra Huller.

Whether one has a scientific bent for not, the response to the technical expertise of the film indicates that there should be many Oscar nominations, for the extraordinary sets the vast spacecraft to space itself, for the stunt work, performed in front of the sets rather than the use of green screens, the expert editing, for the musical score.

The other aspect of the film that is significant is its link with climate change, going beyond this earth, cosmic developments, astrophage fungus that eats into radiation, with threats to Earth and other planets, the need for capturing some of this material and sending it to Earth for scientific studies and future protection.

So, audiences with a scientific bent have really been attracted by the film and recommending it. For others, Project Hail Mary will be something of an overwhelming experience, a challenge to be better prepared for whatever the future is bringing.

1. The tradition of space exploration films? The tradition of threats from outer space? The more serious epic films? The thrillers? This film in the epic vein, running time, screenplay tone? The comic touches? The action touches?
2. The plausibility of the plot, the threat from the virus, developing in space, near Venus, the line to the sun, the effect on Earth, attack, cooling? The scientific response and investigations? Need to avoid public panic? The plan project, named Hail Mary?
3. The significance of the sets, vast, the science, spacecraft, Rocky the alien, the visions of space? The action in front of the sets rather than green screen? The special effects for space, for the beaches and cliffs of the final planet? The comparisons with the scenes on Earth, school, apartments, offices, laboratories? The change in style of the musical score?
4. The framework, space, Grace awakening from the coma, his appearance, time passing, regaining his memories, orientation? The mission? His companions dead, floating out into space? Hs recovering, grooming himself, awareness of the mission?
5. The insertion of the flashbacks to build up the story, Grace, his reputation, thesis, field of study, clashes with authorities, alone, his teaching in school, the classroom sequences?
6. The encounter with Eva, the approach, her personality, convictions, her background, the threat to earth, the scientific discussions, the proposal? The continued flashbacks to his earlier life, the scenes in the classroom, by himself at home, his personal reactions to rejection, meeting with the other scientists, the explanations? The proposal, his refusal, wanting time, running away, the confrontation with the scientists, their expectations of him, Eva and her determination, the time limit, abducting him, sending him into space?
7. Grace, his work, skills, adapting, managing the spacecraft? The mission, the samples, to be sent to earth? The film spending the time detailing him on the craft, his work, his personal life, his memories?
8. The encounter with the spacecraft, the rock creature, setting up the technology to translate the rocks sounds into speech, their communication? The visuals of Rocky and the reason for his name, Rocky Balboa? The rejected voices, his voice, communication? In the container? The bonding, conversations, friendship? The nature of the mission?
9. The shared experiences, the quest, the difficulties, dangers, the attacks, each managing? The shared dangers, unconscious, Grace and the bond with Rocky, fearing it was gone, Rockies gradual revival?
10. The communication with Earth, Grace and his work with the samples, the experience of gathering them, the dangers, cataloguing them? Sending them to earth?
11. Rocky, his contribution, Grace and his decision to return to earth, the limited fuel, the time? Their saying goodbye, the meaning of goodbye, the gesture of Rocky on the arm?
12. Grace, the realisation of the limits, going back to earth, going to Rocky’s planet, the decision, joining together?
13. Back on Earth, Eva, the receiving of the samples, Grace’s achievement, the work to save Earth?
14. Grace and Rocky, the protection of the cover of the planet, the beaches and cliffs, their colour, the water, the companionship? Grace and his teaching, the class full of Rocky characters?
15. The morale of the film, the danger to earth, the need for response, breaking through selfishness or self-centredness, the challenge to become one is better self?

THE FALL GUY

US, 2024, 126 minutes, Colour.

Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke.

Directed by David Leitch.

A big-budget, Northern Hemisphere summer blockbuster, action and romance – and plenty of stunts – for a happy popcorn audience. And based on an 8os television series with Lee Majors.

The fall guy is usually the one who has to take the blame but the emphasis here is on stunt men who have to do all kinds of literal falls for the action sequences of the movie. Actually, later it is revealed that Colt Stevens, longtime reliable stuntman, is actually the fall guy for a murder.

And it was filmed in Sydney! Action on the Harbour Bridge. Elaborate futuristic science-fiction stunts in front of the Opera House, action chases on the harbour.

And the star is Ryan Gosling. For 20 years he has been a very serious actor, able to do comedy, and hitting the headlines as Ken, I’m just Ken, in last year’s very popular Barbie. The Fall Guy won’t dent his popularity at all. All kinds of stunts, some deadpan lines, some pining for Jody, the camera director who is now making her first feature film, Metalstorm, an action show which looks like a minor variation on Dune. And she is played with charm and energy by Emily Blunt.

One of the main attractions for The Fall Guy is the range and extent of so many of the stunts, many going on for quite a while. The director of the film, David Leitch, was a stuntman and body doubled in the past, even in Sydney for The Matrix films. One can tell that he is very enthusiastic about all the stunts. And, he was one of the powers behind the original John Wick, so is not afraid of violent confrontations. And, there are quite a lot of those, always serious but is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humorous touches..

Television audiences will have seen Hannah Waddingham in the popular series, Ted Lasso. Here she is the big, upfront, producer, spurring people on, sometimes sweet-talking them, other times manipulating them, ruthless. And, as the action goes on, we discover that she is even more ruthless! And the hero of Metalstorm, is show pony, Tom Ryder, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, full of himself, prone to flattery, unscrupulous – and sporting a very broad Matthew McConnaughy kind of Texan accent.

And the romance pervades the whole film, stuntman and director pining for each other, split, gradually coming together (symbolised by the split screen sequence where with all their talk about the plot of the film and happy ending, they gradually walk towards each other!).

There will be many more American summer movies like The Fall Guy – but this is the one that we have this year. And a drawcard for American tourists to Sydney to see the sights where Ryan Gosling went into action!

1. A popular blockbuster? Action, stunts, intrigue, murder, romance? And a tribute to stunt experts and their performances?
2. Hollywood, the studios, the sets, Sydney, Harbour Bridge, Opera House, harbour, the use of locations?
3. The musical score, songs and lyrics, the theme for the stunts, the theme for Jody? Background to the action?
4. The opening, colt, personality, appearance, manner, getting ready for the stunt, relationship with Jody, her camera work, his voice-over explaining the situation? The harness, his fall, breaking his back? 18 months away, valet parking, the actor who recognised him? The message from Gail inviting him to come back, saying that Jody wanted him as she was directing Metal Storm? The sneer of the actor, Colt in the car swerving? Response to Gail, flying to Sydney?
5. Jody, with the camera, Gael encouraging her, her first feature film, onset, acting like the Dir, discussing the scenes, with the stunt experts, the graph assistant and his abusing people and her rebuke, the action sequences? Setting it up, suddenly seeing Colt, her not expecting him, her reaction?
6. Colt in Sydney, agreeing to the stunt, meeting up with Dan, their discussions, the car and the role, is seeing Jody, her reactions?
7. The romance theme, at the opening, the separation, her reaction, his reasons, the songs and the themes, the conversations about the screenplay echoing their romance, happy endings, the split screen sequence, coming together, the gradual mellowing, the work on the film, his stunts, her reliance on him? The karaoke, his not turning up, her song, upset, in the screenings, ignoring his phone calls? The shock of his being accused of murder?
8. Colt, the stunt work, at the front of the Opera house, the details of the stunt work? Stunts in action, the fights in the hotel room, Alma and the deal, the chase, the stunts, the Harbour Bridge, the streets and crashes? The issue of the phone?
9. Tom Ryder, self-satisfied, star, absent, Colt set to find him, Gail and her intervention, his going to the room, the body in the bath, camera capturing him, seeking the room, the drug connections after his going to the club, the thugs in the truck, his being captured?
10. The revelation of the truth, Tom Ryder, killing his new stunt double, his motivations, the revelation of his setting up Colt is the fall guy? His security henchman, vicious?
11. Colt tied up, dust with petrol, ready to be killed, his blowing the flame to the villain, the petrol in his mouth? The boat, guiding it facing backwards, getting loose, the pursuit about the harbour, the explosion, presumed dead, the media and the reports, the finding of his jacket, a sign for Jody?
12. The final plan against Tom after his return for the film, the setting up of a scene, the close-ups, trapping him, setting him up with the wire, the drive, his confession, the actual stunt and his reaction?
13. Gail, setting up Colt, giving him the plane ticket, her pretences, the meeting with Jody, the fight, unmasked?
14. The film a success, starring Jason Mamoa, the scenes, the reception?
15. The humour of the final credits, the repeat of so many of the sequences – and then the sudden scene of Alma taking stock of the situation and calling for Jason Mamoa’s agent?