Directed by:
Damien ChazelleScreenplay:
Josh SingerCinematography:
Linus SandgrenComposer:
Justin HurwitzCast:
Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Patrick Fugit, Christopher Abbott, Ciarán Hinds, Olivia Hamilton, Pablo Schreiber (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral, intimate account told from Armstrong’s perspective and based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the cost on Armstrong, his family, his colleagues, and the nation itself for one of the most dangerous missions in history. (Universal Pictures UK)
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Reviews (16)
A realistic biographical drama with emphasis on what must be sacrificed in the interest of science. In terms of style, it’s a cross between Interstellar and The Tree of Life. Gosling’s is excellent as Armstrong, an intelligent guy who can look after himself, although with dulled feelings after of all the death (his farewell with his kids using sentences intended for a press conference is a good example). During the ending, Chazelle does not stoop to giving us a climax with great pathos, where the hero and his friends achieve the goal, simply because most of his companions have been killed. The shots from the Moon are duly impressive and the effect is exquisite. Primarily, they aren’t spoiled by any flag planting. Beautiful music. Excellent. I see the Moon, the Moon sees me...
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What a surprise by Chazelle! Distinctive, cool, gritty, exquisite. An incredibly plausible reconstruction of one of the key events (not only) of the 1960s, where, apart from the journey to the moon itself, there is also a brilliant depiction of the society and family values of that time. Without pathos, without heroism, and with the depressing clacks and creaks of space rocket interiors.
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First Man is an enthralling evocation of the time when spaceflight was not a matter of course and undertaken at the whim of millionaires, but rather an uncertain enterprise that required sacrifice and tremendous determination. At the same time, it is a perfect example of how to build an absorbing and thrilling narrative from a story whose end everyone already knows.
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Damien Chazelle is one of the most interesting young filmmakers of our time, and I don't know if Whiplash or La La Land is better. Anyway, with these two films he has shown that he is not going to be stuck in one single genre, so I was looking forward to the Neil Armstrong biopic and the story of the conquest of the moon. In part, I got exactly what I expected and wanted: a technically perfect film that suits the IMAX big screen, has great cinematography and a sound design that makes you feel scared during the Apollo 11 launch like a regular horror movie. It's great to watch, but Chazelle tries to tell perhaps too many things surrounding the event, and there are just too many stories of pilots, engineers and families. So much so that a lot of them fizzle out and don't lead anywhere substantial plot-wise, or have as much emotional impact as they might have wanted. Overall, though, this is still a must-see film, and preferably in the best and biggest theater possible. There, First Man can be compared to Gravity or Interstellar, at least technically.
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What comes to mind is of course a comparison with Interstellar, Gravity or, God forbid (the premise!) Apollo 11. In the first two instances, the similarities are visual while in the third case they relate to the plot. However, The First Man is still a unique film, by which Damien Chazelle managed to blow the minds of everyone who were looking forward to a typical action flick with everything it entails. Because The First Man is everything but an action flick, even though it is full of suspense. My only regret is that this film is too long. Certain dialogues could’ve used some cutting. I however liked looking at Neil Armstrong with his own eyes. Naturally the most visually compelling part of the film is its second half that beautifully shows Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. It almost makes you think that the director and cameraman actually landed on the Moon again to take these breathtaking shots. I can imagine that watching this in a cinema must be absolutely fantastic. Ryan Gosling is of course a great choice. I didn’t think he would come unprepared for his role of Neil Armstrong. Moreover, the political debates revolving around NASA were a welcome bonus.
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