Review of First Man (2018) by Andy B — 23 Oct 2018

This movie is quite simply breathtaking. Director Damien Chazelle tells the story of one of the most iconic and pivotal acts of the 20th century, man walking on the moon, by focusing on the story of the key player in that endeavour, Neil Armstrong.

However, this is more than a movie about the space race. This is very definitely observation about the relationship between a man and his wife, the deep love and respect that they have for each other and how they handle a searing moment of family grief.

Armstrong and his wife, Janet are magnificently played by Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy who must be in the running for Oscar nominations for their acting which is simply perfect. The period setting of the 1960s is wonderfully and accurately evoked with the technology that took humans to the moon's surface looking very clunky and haphazard compared to what we see today.

The very real danger that these amazing pioneers placed in is brutally bought home by the depiction of the deaths of the crew of Apollo 1 in a fire on the launchpad. This harrowing scene is not graphic but, nevertheless has a visceral impact.

The climactic scenes where Armstrong and Aldrin reach the moon and finally step out onto the surface are stunningly realised and extremely powerful. Don't expect a high-octane, action movie from First Man, this is a quite, more cerebral study of the events that is focused on the complex characters that made the adventure possible.

Everything from the costume to the extraordinary film score works brilliantly and the final result is moving and wondrous.