Ave Maria Project (P.H.M.) will be the latest addition to the ever-expanding library of sci-fi movies when it hits theaters later this month.
Despite the book’s name, the number of films that the Ryan Gosling-starring vehicle could have taken inspiration from is, then, for lack of a better word, astronomical.
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Look
Where to stream: HBO Max (US), ITVX (UK), and HBO Max and Binge (Australia)
Execution time: 139 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% (critics); 88% (audience)
“You have to put 2001: A Space Odyssey there,” Miller said after thinking about it for a few seconds.
He’s not wrong either. Stanley Kubrick’s seminal science fiction epic has influenced many other works, whether films, television shows, books or video games. It has also been thoroughly parodied, with The Simpsons, Futurama, south park, WALL-Eand even Warner Bros. in the first trailer for the studio’s 2024 megahit Barbie, taking a satirical stab at the genre-defining film.
It polarized critics upon its initial release, but 2001 Not only has he left a lasting legacy on science fiction as a whole, but he has also impacted our entire culture, particularly from a technological standpoint. In a time when artificial intelligence affects all industries and causes some concern, 2001Examining the dangers of AI through its main antagonist HAL-9000 has never felt more prescient than today.
Dark Star (1974)
Look
Where to stream: Prime Video and The Criterion Channel (US), Prime Video (UK) and Binge (Australia)
Execution time: 83 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74% (critical); 64% (audience)
And now something completely different. A 1974 science fiction comedy, dark star It was the directorial debut of none other than legendary auteur John Carpenter. In it, the crew of the eponymous (and deteriorating) spaceship search for and destroy unstable planets that could threaten the future colonization of other worlds. Yes, it’s as surreal as it sounds.
Given the seemingly infinite number of science fiction films that exist, some will argue that, while dark star Now considered a cult classic, it takes no place above other award-winning and critically acclaimed films. Lord, however, is convinced that this is how it should be.
“It is a key film that can be traced Foreign back to,” Lord said of dark starThe influence of that 1979 sci-fi horror film (NB: both films were written by Dan O’Bannon). “dark star was a great source of inspiration for Foreign and for us [on Project Hail Mary] “Because of how messy our ship is depicted and the way people talk to each other it seems naturalistic both in her and in our film.”
Extraterrestrial (1979)
Look
Where to stream: Hulu (US), Disney+ (UK), and Disney+ (Australia)
Execution time: 116 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93% (critical); 94% (audience)
Taking into account the influence dark star it was on P.H.M. and ForeignIt won’t surprise anyone to see that the latter is also among Lord and Miller’s top picks.
“Although it is not a horror film, we tried to capture the essence of Foreign“Lord explained. “Our cinematographer, Greig Fraser, was very inspired by Foreign and the way it was photographed. At first, it seems a little warmer than your typical sci-fi movie. “We also love the feel of the movie, with its padded walls and the camaraderie among the Nostromo team.”
Look
Where to stream: rent or buy from Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube stores (US), Disney+ (UK), and Disney+, Paramount+, Binge and Foxtel (Australia)
Execution time: 114 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% (critical); 72% (audience)
Widely considered one of iconic filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s best works, ET: The Extraterrestrial is another of Lord and Miller’s favorite films, and, as Miller said, not just “because it’s an obvious choice to include.”
In fact, parallels can be drawn between ET and Elliot, the boy who befriends ET, and Gosling’s Ryland Grace and the arachnid-like Eridian he calls Rocky. Both films feature unlikely friendships between humans and aliens that become central components of their respective stories and, among other things, thematically highlight tolerance toward beings from other walks of life.
From Amazon and Sony, Ave Maria Project It will manage to take off on March 19 (UK and Australia) and March 20 (US and elsewhere). Before I do, read my Ave Maria Project check to see if it’s worth watching.
