Veteran and Award-winning Chicago-born and Los Angeles-based Theatre Artist and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson shares information and insights regarding his more than five decades of involvement in The Performing Arts.
ESC's Darryl Maximilian Robinson Reviews PROJECT HAIL MARY At The Regal Cinemas LA Live!
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ESC'S DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON SHARES A MINI-REVIEW OF "PROJECT HAIL MARY" AT REGAL CINEMAS LA LIVE!:
What is "astrophage"? What is a "Petrova Line"? And who would knowingly risk life and limb to go on a suicide mission into the massive void of interstellar space just to visit a far distant sun with the small hope that you might find a solution that may save our own sun from dimming and causing catastrophic disasters on Earth? These questions are intriguingly and thoughtfully and humorously answered in the new 2026 gem of a science fiction and buddy comedy film "Project Hail Mary" currently playing in the charming and comfortable confines of Cinema 8 at DTLA's Regal Cinemas LA LIVE.
Joined by my good friend and fellow movie fan Christopher Sharpe ( who also enjoyed this movie ), I attended this new film at the Monday April 27, 2026 6:40 pm screening at the Regal Cinemas without having read Andy Weir's successful sci-fi novel that was the basis of the piece. That said, this film certainly brings Weir's characters to vivid life. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have assembled a skilled cast and crew, provided fine technical and design elements, and in the highly effective portrayal of the alien character "Rocky" ( a cleverly designed puppet wonderfully brought to life in movement and voiced by James Ortiz, assisted by the team of "Rockyteers" ) have created a tone for the film that will intrigue and delight science fiction fans.
"Project Hail Mary" begins with the emergence of what appears to be an extremely reluctant, amnesia ridden and completely unprepared astronaut being revived from an 11-year-long coma on a vessel in interstellar space. And, indeed, the majority of the action takes place in space ( with some outstanding cinematography by Greig Fraser ) but Drew Goddard's highly effective screenplay also takes the audience into this reluctant astronaut's memories via flashbacks and we learn how, when and why middle school science teacher and molecular biology scientist Ryland Grace ultimately came to be on this vessel on a mission to save all life not only on Earth, but also on another planet facing a sun dimming issue as well.
Ryan Gosling, who also co-produced "Project Hail Mary," gives an outstanding and touching performance as the teacher and the scientist Ryland Grace. He compels us to feel for his predicament and one appreciates his warmth, his humor and his connection and bond with James Ortiz as "Rocky." The best scenes of "Project Hail Mary" occur when the comedic and heartfelt bonds between these two characters are highlighted. Gosling's portrayal of Ryland Grace is one of the best screen performances in recent sci-fi film history.
Gosling and Ortiz are supported by skilled fellow players, including the excellent Sandra Huller, who is most effective as the ruthless and determined Eva Stratt, leader of "Project Hail Mary" back on Earth, and by a good character role performance by Lionel Boyce in the role of Carl the Security Officer.
Ryan Gosling and Company's "Project Hail Mary" is one of the most intriguing and entertaining films of the new year.
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