Written by: Kevin Berge
I'm so glad in 2018 that someone came out with a movie willing to celebrate... a white man being exceptional. Never seen this before. (Image Courtesy of: themarysue.com)
Quick Take: First Man takes one of the most talked about historical moments in history and adds a personal context to the movie on top of a beautiful visual representation of the important moments in Neil Armstrong's life. Director Damien Chazelle and leads Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy are in top form, adding weight to a fairly bare-bones script.
***This review will spoil events of the film only be referencing the historical moments in question. Any surprises First Man may add to the experience are unspoiled for those who have not seen the film.***
Nobody was really looking for a movie featuring the moon landing. The idea that Damien Chazelle (La La Land) would go from exploring his complicated relationship with jazz music to a biopic on Neil Armstrong had no appeal whatsoever. It seemed like a waste of one of the best directors going.
This movie does not do a great job justifying itself. It is a film made for the 90s when Apollo 13 was an absolute hit and it was not as politically complex to celebrate American exceptionalism. With lower stakes and a swath of political questions left unanswered, First Man does not even try to explain its purpose.
However, this does not make this a bad movie. It is beautifully crafted with gorgeous cinematography from Chazelle's cinematography partner Linus Sandgren. The shots particularly in space truly showcase the majesty of what these men are going out to experience.
The movie also relies on Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine) and Claire Foy (The Crown) to make the most of a heavy focus on Armstrong and his family. To humanize this story, a heavy weight is put on the toll of the astronaut's work on him and his family. He loses friends, and his wife especially must face the constant reality that he could die at any moment.
Gosling embodies the internal frustration of the man, heavily showcasing his emotions through his eyes rather than out-of-character outbursts. Foy's role as his wife Janet is often thankless, but she does a fantastic job framing how frustrating it can be to love a man who is so unable to express his deepest fears and joys.
The screenplay by Josh Singer (Spotlight) adapted from James R. Hanson's biography rarely gives the actors a chance. It is fairly simple, and it is up to the performers to bring out the drama as well as some solid yet subtle humor. Often, they are the reason to get invested in more than the basic story.
Nobody was really looking for a movie featuring the moon landing. The idea that Damien Chazelle (La La Land) would go from exploring his complicated relationship with jazz music to a biopic on Neil Armstrong had no appeal whatsoever. It seemed like a waste of one of the best directors going.
This movie does not do a great job justifying itself. It is a film made for the 90s when Apollo 13 was an absolute hit and it was not as politically complex to celebrate American exceptionalism. With lower stakes and a swath of political questions left unanswered, First Man does not even try to explain its purpose.
However, this does not make this a bad movie. It is beautifully crafted with gorgeous cinematography from Chazelle's cinematography partner Linus Sandgren. The shots particularly in space truly showcase the majesty of what these men are going out to experience.
The movie also relies on Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine) and Claire Foy (The Crown) to make the most of a heavy focus on Armstrong and his family. To humanize this story, a heavy weight is put on the toll of the astronaut's work on him and his family. He loses friends, and his wife especially must face the constant reality that he could die at any moment.
Gosling embodies the internal frustration of the man, heavily showcasing his emotions through his eyes rather than out-of-character outbursts. Foy's role as his wife Janet is often thankless, but she does a fantastic job framing how frustrating it can be to love a man who is so unable to express his deepest fears and joys.
The screenplay by Josh Singer (Spotlight) adapted from James R. Hanson's biography rarely gives the actors a chance. It is fairly simple, and it is up to the performers to bring out the drama as well as some solid yet subtle humor. Often, they are the reason to get invested in more than the basic story.
I cannot wait until astronaut is the new fashion in America. I'll be all over the giant white baggy jacket look. (Image Courtesy of: theatlantic.com)
At its core, First Man does not feel like it has a lot to say. It is framed around a historical event that was one of America's defining achievements, and the movie does not quite know how to speak on the subject. It tries to be apolitical yet points to all the politics involved.
Armstrong seems to be guided by the personal tragedies in his life, but most of the time only the subtlety in Gosling's acting makes that clear at all. His accomplishments are framed as the work of a man who pushed every boundary for a desire that is never really articulated.
The astronaut works to ultimately get lost in space, to escape the rest of the world. While others have concerns about America's place in the space race or are driven by a passion to be called "the first", Neil really does not care. He can barely handle the media attention he gets as he grows so close to his greatest accomplishment.
There was more to be said here that did not have to be reliant on an old way of looking at politics that would seem flat-out outdated. There was more that could have been done especially with the script to convey Armstrong's love for his family and his passionate drives.
What comes of First Man is a film with a fine story but beautiful visual landscape. Chazelle brings the most out of what is in front of him, but it all feels like a waste of a man who had so much to say before. His first move away from music lacks his signature style.
I mainly puts this on the movie being the first of his directed efforts that Chazelle did not also write. There's a disconnect that makes this lesser even if it is a perfectly fine ride. First Man is better than it looked on the surface but still ultimately a waste of those involved.
Armstrong seems to be guided by the personal tragedies in his life, but most of the time only the subtlety in Gosling's acting makes that clear at all. His accomplishments are framed as the work of a man who pushed every boundary for a desire that is never really articulated.
The astronaut works to ultimately get lost in space, to escape the rest of the world. While others have concerns about America's place in the space race or are driven by a passion to be called "the first", Neil really does not care. He can barely handle the media attention he gets as he grows so close to his greatest accomplishment.
There was more to be said here that did not have to be reliant on an old way of looking at politics that would seem flat-out outdated. There was more that could have been done especially with the script to convey Armstrong's love for his family and his passionate drives.
What comes of First Man is a film with a fine story but beautiful visual landscape. Chazelle brings the most out of what is in front of him, but it all feels like a waste of a man who had so much to say before. His first move away from music lacks his signature style.
I mainly puts this on the movie being the first of his directed efforts that Chazelle did not also write. There's a disconnect that makes this lesser even if it is a perfectly fine ride. First Man is better than it looked on the surface but still ultimately a waste of those involved.
