Review of First Man (2018) by Albertus A — 13 Oct 2018
Can't get enough of Ryan Gossling's silent internally focused stares. There is a movie for you. First Man is an excellent almost documentary look into the space race and the first man to step foot on the moon.
As a character in a story, Armstrong is not a terribly sympathetic protagonist. He is not brutish or mean, just a tad cold. We are lead to believe that it may have to do with a family tragedy, but it seems more likely that it is just the character of the man.
Clearly a secondary story here is the family drama. Clare Foy does a bang up job as wife Janet Armstrong. Her collected body of work is stacking up to make her my favorite actress of the year. I really felt that all the NASA equipment and environs felt appropriate of the time, not Hollywood glammed-up.
It is an impressive job out of the new Hollywood east aka The Tyler Perry Studios in Georgia. A Damien Chazelle movie released in the 4th quarter of year is certainly going to get Oscar buzz and on the technical merits First Man is certain worthy.
The surrounding cast of Ed White (Jason Clarke), Buzz Aldren (Corey Stoll), and Deke Slaton (Kyle Chandler) is solid. I have issues with the Justin Hurwitz score, including a swelling loud orchestra on the first moon horizon shot.
That and the musical tension ticks are kind of too on-the-nose, but do not feel first rate. Similar to his La La Land, this Chazelle movie has some impressive technical tricks in the bag but fails to really yank my heart strings.
This review of First Man (2018) was written by Albertus A on 13 Oct 2018.
First Man has generally received positive reviews.
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