What It Is: The sun is dying. An interstellar substance is responsible for the slow decay. When a multi-national space aviation department puts together a group of engineers and scientists to figure it all out, they enlist elementary school science teacher (and genius) Ryland Grace (Gosling) to figure it out. Somehow the mission requires Grace to head up to space, and it’s program director Eva’s job to get him up there. By whatever means are necessary.

What We Think: What a beautiful motion picture we have here. Ryan Gosling is absolutely incredible. He brings a charisma to Grace that many others simply wouldn’t be able to weight correctly. It’s a thin line with something like this between wit and annoyance. Visually, shooting this on and in IMAX was a wise decision. Everything about this film screams to be shot and seen on the biggest screen possible. It’s got gorgeous visuals, even when we’re not up in space. It’s got amazing sound design that is only heightened by the better sound of the format. Drew Goddard’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel is pitch perfect. He expertly condenses Weir’s novel into 156 minutes. If you have been reading us for a while you’ll know I loved the last time they adapted a Weir novel into a feature film, over a decade ago with The Martian. Once again that isolationism and loneliness of space is prevalent. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much James Ortiz and his sedimentary superhero Rocky garnered massive amounts of consideration for their incredible work. I laughed, I cried, I felt. A movie that can make me feel is something worth anyone’s time.

Our Grade: A+, An early contender for the best film of the year. Between Gosling showing the star he is and Sandra Hüller continuing to be one of the low key best actresses working today, this is a film firing on all cylinders. Hüller even steals the show with a certain scene featuring an ex-boy bander. It’s ironic that the biggest thing this film gets right aside from visuals is atmosphere. This film is a huge recommend. You’d have to be crazy to not love this film and to not want to see it. Sci-fi done the right way can be some of cinema’s most exhilarating experiences. This is no different. Lord and Miller are absolutely flexing here with this film. It is their direction that guides the ship. I loved this.

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