Review of First Man (2018) by Chris O — 25 Oct 2018

A beautiful film that adds onto Damien Chazelle's impressive filmography list.

On the heels of their six-time Academy Award (R)-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar (R)-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures' First Man, the riveting story of NASA's mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the nation of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

So I have "La La Land" and "Whiplash" tattooed on my body. And I feel like if I met Damien one day, I should show him those tattoos. I don't know if he'll think I'm crazy, but ya know I'm a film student and it's all part of a bigger piece. So officially, I'm excited for anything that Chazelle releases. While I didn't love this piece, I still thought it was a really well made film. It's not Chazelle's best, but it's great none the less.

One thing I loved about this film was its story. This biopic was not only eye-opening, but very intriguing. I saw an accurate portrayal of Armstrong that I didn't know was accurate until I research afterward. I felt like I was there experiencing the journey and it all felt so real. This felt like such a genuine and grounded experience that was paired with a really compelling story. It may not move at a fast enough pace for some people but it was certainly enticing enough for me.

One thing that I didn't love the first time around was the cinematography. I think this film looked absolutely gorgeous but I wasn't a fan of all the tight close ups. Maybe on a second watch, I'll appreciate them more, but I didn't always love it. I think there were moments, especially the sequences in space, where the visuals and angles were beautiful. However, I wasn't a fan of all the intimate closeups and it just felt too tight and compact at times.

Ryan Gosling, along with co., gave us some powerful performances. Ryan Gosling has ye to disappoint me. The amount he can bring to one character without having to overdo anything is astounding to me. His performance as Armstrong was definitely a memorable one, and the rest of the supporting cast certainly added more than enough.

In the end, "First Man" wasn't perfect at all, but it was a great film and a well made one in many technical aspects.