Film Review: Project Hail Mary (2026)

 

Light and optimistic is probably the best way to describe Project Hail Mary, but these adjectives are not the only things that describe this excellent science fiction film. Below the endless optimistic atmosphere lies a more complex story of perseverance and determination through collectivism, rather than individualism, regardless of the circumstances. The story of the film supports this approach through its character-centric take on the famous book by Andy Weir. 

In this case, Weir created a world where no one is stuck on Mars, but humanity is stuck with a dying Sun. The only shot to reverse this planetary calamity is Ryland Grade, played by Ryan Gosling, a middle school teacher who figures out that the solution might be in a distant star system. There, however, challenges await, but so does one unexpected extraterrestrial friendship.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directed the film and somehow managed to blend their comedy background with this hard sci-fi story. But they also didn't turn it into a parody and instead blended both the drama and the humor into a truly unique output. I'm certain that Project Hail Mary became a hit due to its action and jokes, but I'm also sure that it will age really well because it, in the end, tells a tale about a journey and those who ended up alone in the endless dark, only to find each other. In a world where we’re getting more somber and dystopian stories like the one in Leave the World Behind, having a story about Rocky and Ryland is hugely refreshing. 

Odyssey: Returning Home | A Cinematic Short Film - Celebration of the Resilience of the Human Spirit

"Now I return not as the man who left, but as what remains. And still, he knows me. Not by my face, not by my voice, but by something time cannot break. Loyalty does not remember the years; it remembers the soul"

This is one of the lines from the start of Odyssey: Returning Home, a cinematic short film by Devendra Tak, presented on the Infinity of Space and Time YouTube channel. The film takes on the timeless story of Odysseus and his long journey home from the Trojan War. In this case, however, the same epic tale is not told only through its most dramatic and incredible moments. Instead, Tak, using the latest cutting-edge audio and video generating technology, tries to dive deep into the man that Odysseus was. Here, it takes a long and hard look into him and the motivations and regrets behind his decisions. 

Here, this presents the very essence of the question: what is to be human, to be a being that yearns to love and to be loved. The circumstances of this Greek hero might be drastic, but behind them is just a man, nothing more and nothing less. This is where the film truly shines - moments like Odysseus, now an old man, meeting his faithful dog and the lines from the top that come at that tearful reunion. 

Then, there is that flash of remembrance of him, not as the king of Ithaca, but as a father, teaching his son archery in a past that seems to him nothing more than a myth, or a tale of someone else who is no longer there. Yet, that love still beckons after so many decades and so many trials and tribulations. That love is still a beacon calling Odysseus to the only truly important place - home.

In these moments, the film explores not only the question of psychological identity, but also how the past, memory, hopes, and dreams all bind us into what we are. The grand cinematography that seems to always evolve and change also complements that notion perfectly. Yes, there are battles and raging seas, there are monsters and armed duels, but it is in the quiet contemplation that offers the most of what this short but very impactful film provides - through understanding this hero, we get the possibility to better understand ourselves. 

The film is set to premiere on Friday, 31 July 2026 and become available to all on the official Infinity of Space and Time YouTube channel. "The Long Way Home", the film's Original Soundtrack, is available now on all leading music platforms. If you enjoy works of art that explore the very essences of what it means to be human, watch Odyssey: Returning Home and set off onto a dream-like, impactful journey like few before it who took the challenge of reinterpreting Homer's timeless masterpiece.

Film Review: The Housemaid (2025)

Things truly have changed in the housemaid industry, as Merry Poppins would likely notice after watching The Housemaid. Back in the good old 19th century, there would have been a much smaller chance of the lord of the manor meeting their young, attractive maid watching TV in his man cave. But this is just one of the situations that takes place in this thriller. Like almost anything where Sidney Sweeney appears, her body is a big element of this film, further building on this myth that anything alive right now has to find her simply irresistible or repulsive.

In this case, Sweeney brings her universe-spanning sex appeal to a wealthy family where she, having a troubled past, arrives as a live-in housemaid. Immediately, the setup of "everyone has countless secrets and then some" starts playing out, along with Sweeney's dress-up and show-off process. But, even though the film at moments feels like some low-key comedy and in the next moment something like a misdirected soap, it's still entertaining. There's a lot of inspiration in it, including things like Misery and even a hint of subtle social criticism and a hands-on type of feminism. All of that is happening along with abundant Sidneyploitation.

In many ways, The Housemaid is like Sweeney herself. You might have different takes about her looks, acting abilities, talent, and even possible political alignment. But, chances are that despite those opinions, you're still looking to see what will happen next. This film, too, takes us on a journey, and if you accept its offer, you'll also, in all likelihood, stick out until the end.

Film Review: Mickey 17 (2025)

 

When Parasite came out in 2019, I wasn't as impressed as I was with  Memories of Murder, a film that blew me away nearly two decades ago. But it did show that the voice of Bong Joon Ho is an evolving artistic presence and, strangely enough, that his time in the global limelight is only starting out in earnest.

When great directors suddenly get massive budgets, the same money is often tied to a gentle chokehold of producers and studio executives. For Bong Joon Ho and his sci-fi satirical comedy, that chokehold was not an option. Instead of making something dumbed down, he made probably one of the better films of this type in many years. On some levels, this film, showcasing the life of a constantly dying and reprinted indentured worker, Mickey on a colonising mission, rivals Terry Gilliam's Brazil. It also shares many of the key points that it explores, but here, the exposition is about mass media spectacle as it is about inalienable human rights.

It's wonderful to see that Bong Joon Ho commanded such a massive budget and a cast including Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette, and a fantastic Mark Ruffalo, but still remained so very much his own man. Mickey 17 is resonant, touching, bizarre, grotesque, and funny, all at the same time. There's a massive lesson there for the likes of Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan. In other words, your talent and vision are important, but only if you are able to stick with them even when the stakes are very high. If not, you get to direct the new James Bond film or make the 100th version of Homer's Odysseus. I’m not seeing Bong Joon Ho move in any of those directions anytime soon.

Hey Chris TV Series - Balancing Family, Ambition, and Faith

 

Every life is always an endless stream of good moments, bad moments, and everything in between. Finding both the drama and the humor in those moments is often where great art is found, and the same applies to Hey Chris, a TV series available exclusively on Tubi. Its story focuses on Chris Kingston, a man devoted to his family. Chris is also very ambitious and a man of faith, who is constantly working to find the right balance in his life. But destiny is also ever-ready to throw some unexpected twists and turns, which the entire Kingston family has to resolve and overcome. 

 As a family comedy-drama, this series is all about the will and determination needed to keep a household together and resolve anything life has in store. It also deals with the realities of a regular family working, living, and loving in the modern United States. This makes it particularly impactful as it tells the tale of ordinary people meeting everyday problems, just as the same thing happens to countless others this very day across the US. The same allows for both the drama and the humor of the experiences of Chris and his loved ones to be even more relevant and impactful.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in watching, check out the official Facebook group of the series to get more information about the show. But, once you do that, head on to Tubi and watch Hey Chris right now to share the tears and the laughs with the Kingstons family!

Counterfeit Kids - Crime Drama Diving Deep into Emotional Realism

Set in 1980s Baltimore, Counterfeit Kids stars seemingly ordinary people. As a directorial debut of Screenwriter James Sclafani, it seeks to explore the characters and situations that are not overtly dramatic, but carry the hardship and difficulties that can be easily recognized in any context or time period or place. By doing this, it offers a slow-burning crime drama that is not only about real emotions and different mind states, but also characters who, because of that, seem all too real.

The film places the audience inside a foster home, where two teenagers dream of something better. They are Nic and Jude, both young and completely aware of the instability and toxicity of their newfound circumstances. This is especially seen in the form of the leeching and manipulative Jerry and Trisha, who run the same home. Nic is close to Jude, who is her best friend, but also conflicted about her relationship with her mom Trisha. During a time when Nic was suffering from leukemia, Trisha was there to take care of her. But, as time passed, that relationship turned toxic. 

 

On the other hand, Jude is a talented and resourceful artist who comes up with a simple idea - to use his skills to make counterfeit money. Nic, on the other hand, has both charm and personality that allow the pair to pass off the fake money in places like local stores and flea markets. As the scheme seems to work, Trisha and Jerry find out about it and decide to steal some of the counterfeit bills. This sets the film on an escalating path where Nic, in particular, will have to make some hard choices, especially when it comes to Trisha. 

This film is not a massive crime spectacle, and most definitely isn’t something that romanticizes the necessity and the drive to commit these illegal deeds. Instead, Sclafani draws on his previous experience to build a small but believable world of two young people who desire to change their lives no matter the cost. Instead of resigning to their cruel and unfair fate, both Nic and Jude are determined to change their fortunes, however possible. A story like that has an inherent, timeless power and with it, all-encompassing ability to connect to the audience. 

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in experiencing, Counterfeit Kids will screen at the New Jersey International Film Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The screening will take place at Rutgers University’s Voorhees Hall in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Tickets, as well as all relevant festival information are available here.