Review of First Man (2018) by Emma Rose W — 21 Oct 2018

Damien Chazelle has come out with yet another gripping film that leaves you with much to discuss after it's over. First Man could have just been a straight forward film about the moon landing, but Chazelle made it into something more by focusing on the life of Neil, his family, and the other astronauts.

This films focus is not just on the incredible acts of Neil but also on his struggle to deal with the loss of his daughter. Throughout the movie we get flashbacks of times with Neil and his daughter among the tireless and sometimes dangerous efforts of those trying to get to the moon.

The film was shot in a way that I normally would not enjoy with the use of lots of shaky camera motions. However, that element only raised the bar of the film because you felt like you were part of the action.

Gosling also gives a star studded performance while dialing down his Hollywood star power. This allowed for a very captivating character to watch. Claire Foy also delivered a strong performance, and her strength shined though while having to hold her own against the men of the time.

This film is a journey worth taking, not only for getting to travel to the moon, but also for the story of a fathers love for his daughter.