Image / Amazon MGM Studios
The Amazon MGM Super Bowl spot saw them pay top dollar for commercial time, and it was well worth it – they snagged the most interesting, thought-provoking science fiction clip of the night. During the broadcast on Sunday, they introduced a full 60 seconds of the teaser for Project Hail Mary, a film we all know is based on the hit novel by Andy Weir. What really caught the eye was the first glimpse of Rocky, the main Eridian character – a five legged, eyeless alien, who is basically the heart and soul of Weir’s book. As the Hail Mary silhouette is mostly hidden behind its hull, the metal structure looks like some sort of spider, and the sounds it makes are a pretty clear indication that the directors – Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – are not afraid to get weird and take risks with this film. I mean, let’s face it, an alien movie with a bit of a sci-fi twist is just what we need to get excited about.
So what did we see in the teaser? Well, as Ryland Grace – played by the talented Ryan Gosling – becomes more and more confused in the opening scenes of the movie. Gosling’s also drawing on his character from First Man – his serious side and ability to poke fun at himself. It makes for a compelling character and adds some nice depth to the story. We also get a glimpse of Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt, a woman with a chilly presence of authority – a perfect counterbalance to Gosling’s fear as he tries to wrap his head around the fact that the sun is about to wipe out the Earth.
The visuals are a key part of this movie. The IMAX cinematography of Greig Fraser takes us on a wild ride, bringing us right into the heart of the action with the Petrova task scenes and the cramped, enclosed spaces of the Hail Mary spacecraft. And here’s the thing – it all works. It’s a perfect balance of buddy comedy and alien content. We catch a glimpse of Rocky early on, and it’s no surprise – Amazon’s clearly decided to put him front and centre, rather than saving him for a surprise later down the line. And the main promotional strategy? Well, it’s pretty clear – unlikely friendships are going to be the name of the game here.
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