First Man
(Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
There was a time in 1969 when there was no internet, no video games, and no smartphones.
In those days, families got together in front of the TV to experience something as culturally significant and important as the first ever landing on the moon.
The new movie “First Man,” from Academy Award-winning director Damien Chazelle offers a first-person view of the famous astronauts and the many obstacles to make the impossible possible. It’s based on the book “First Man: A Life of Neil A. Armstrong,” by James R. Hansen.
It’s the 1960s, and Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) is an eager test pilot hoping to better himself by being part of NASA’s best. Though he deals with the sudden death of his three-year old daughter from cancer, his grief gives him the determination to make something of himself by volunteering for the Project Gemini program.
With the support of his wife, Janet (Claire Foy), and two sons, the Armstrong family moves to Houston, where Neil will train for the moon mission. Under the supervision of Deke Slayton (Kyle Chandler), he joins fellow astronauts Edward White (Jason Clarke) and Gus Grissom (Shea Whigham) to learn how to handle a difficult trip in a manned rocket.
But along the way, they face tragedy and other misguided attempts to get to their destination. Finally in 1969, Neil is chosen along with Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll) and Jim Lovell (Pablo Schreiber) to head the Apollo 11 trip to the moon. His wife fears that she and the kids will lose him, much like some of the other families’ astronauts.
Once they lift off, these three men will realize how they’re making history for the world.
Even if you already know how this true story went, the movie does a great job putting you in the driver’s seat with these men going through the perilous journey. Chazelle uses his own filmmaking techniques to offer a unique style of perspective within the journey. The scenes involving different flights are suspenseful and exciting enough to the point that you’ll sometimes wonder if they’re ever going to get out of it alive.
Some of it might be too much for anyone especially if you’re planning to see it in IMAX or worse, if you’re going to see it with a theater’s D-Box feature. Though the movie was shot in 35mm, the filmmakers manage to make it feel and look like life through the lens of a 16mm camera like one of those independent productions from the New Hollywood era.
There’s an authentic feel about the 1960s from the art design to the references of the country’s turbulent times. The running time could’ve been a little shorter mainly in the second act where Neil’s space flight test scene needed to be a bit condensed. However, the rest of the movie is pretty strong that this problem can be forgiven.
Most of the film’s focus is on Armstrong, and it takes a lot for Gosling to carry a lot of this film himself. Fortunately, he gives the character strong pathos and emotion in all of his scenes in another of the actor’s big list of great performances.
Foy managed to give a pretty good performance by elevating the kind of thankless role you see in this kind of movie. Chandler, Clarke and Stoll all highlight the supporting cast in very interesting performances.
Now that awards season is underway, “First Man” seems poised to make it to the top thanks to its authentic true story and technical achievements. But no matter what you heard about this movie, it’s very worth a watch on the big screen. Just be prepared for a dizzying ride into space.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for some thematic content involving peril, and brief strong language)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
