Project Hail Mary (12, 156 mins)
Verdict: Ambitious but excessively drawn out
Project Hail Mary clocks in at over two and a half hours, turning Ryan Gosling’s interstellar journey into a test of endurance. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller adapt Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, with Weir co-writing the screenplay alongside Drew Goddard. Gosling portrays Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher and former molecular biologist thrust into a desperate mission.
Grace awakens from a year-long coma aboard the starship Hail Mary, grappling with amnesia in zero gravity. Flashbacks reveal his recruitment by stern bureaucrat Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller), chosen for his expertise and solitary life—no family, no pets. Two crewmates perished en route. His goal: reach Tau Ceti, the sole star unaffected by microbes dimming the sun and threatening Earth’s extinction. The ship carries power for a one-way trip, demanding ultimate sacrifice.
En route, Grace encounters Rocky, a rock-like spider alien on a parallel quest. Their alliance shifts the serious sci-fi into buddy-comedy territory, complete with slapstick antics reminiscent of classic routines. While some theatergoers erupt in laughter, the film’s length—longer than Gosling’s First Man (2018)—dulls the momentum for others. Early screenings suggest broad appeal, positioning it as a crowd-pleaser despite outlier critiques.
Midwinter Break (12, 90 mins)
Verdict: Thoughtful and compelling despite deliberate pace
Lesley Manville shines as Stella in Midwinter Break, a devout Catholic scarred by injuries from Belfast’s Troubles. Now emotionally confined in her marriage to retired architect Gerry (Ciaran Hinds), who favors spirits of the bottled variety, she seeks renewal. A weekend in Amsterdam tempts her toward a sisterhood of women, testing their long union.
Polly Findlay directs this adaptation of Bernard MacLaverty’s novel, delivering exquisite performances and keen observation. Its measured tempo suits the introspective drama, sustaining engagement through a concise runtime.
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Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come (15, 108 mins) ★★★½
This gore-soaked sequel picks up from 2019’s Ready Or Not, with Samara Weaving’s Grace handcuffed to estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) in a sprawling mansion. Wealthy, Satan-worshipping families hunt them until dawn, vying for global control. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood co-star, alongside David Cronenberg’s cameo. Riotous violence evokes twisted reality TV, though the graphic content against women raises questions about its 15 rating.
Broken English (15, 99 mins) ★★★½
This documentary traces Marianne Faithfull’s turbulent life, blending whimsy with poignancy. Footage of her 1960s heyday with the Rolling Stones contrasts her frail present, oxygen-dependent yet radiating charisma and resilience.
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