First Man movie review

Movie Title:   First Man  

Grade: A- 

Rating:  PG-13, 138 minutes

In a Nutshell:   Oscar winners Ryan Gosling and Damien Chazelle come together again after their award-winning smash hit La La Land to bring us a fascinating look at Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.  Based on the book by James R. Hansen, this dramatic first-person account of mankind’s historic accomplishment carefully illustrates the great cost and sacrifice required.  In fact, Ryan Gosling later explained in an interview that not including a shot of Neil Armstrong placing the American flag on the moon was a deliberate choice, because they wanted to celebrate the event as mankind’s accomplishment and not just as an American feat.  James R. Hansen’s book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong was actually nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  He was nominated again for his book The Space Flight Revolution: A Sociological Study

It’s an honorable tribute to all of the “sailors of the sky” who sacrificed so much to allow us to explore things beyond our front door.  While the movie attempts to conquer the grandeur and expansiveness of space, it’s also interested in exploring the inner thoughts of one man.  I loved that the approach to this big space, action film took a very personal approach.

I remember watching Neil Armstrong take that first step on the moon.  I was a little girl and knew it was an important event because my dad made such a big deal out of it.  I grew up in California and my dad connected a small TV to a table outside so that we could watch it while we relaxed by the swimming pool in the sunny afternoon.  I was wearing a white dress with polka dots that my mother had lovingly sewn for me.  I must have been bouncing around and driving my father nuts, because when I walked past his lounge chair, he lifted up his leg and tapped me into the swimming pool with his foot.  My new dress swallowed me and I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry.  Needless to say, I remember Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.  The Eagle has landed!

Tips for parents: 

• Children may be bored.
• Some people die, but you don’t see bodies or blood. 
• It will teach kids more about this historic event and allow parents to talk about what things are worth sacrificing for, how federal money should be spent, and why family is so important.
• Two F-bombs and a little bit of other profanity.
• Astronauts in perilous situations.
• Some drinking and smoking.  Janet Armstrong smokes quite a bit.

Uplifting theme: 

• Family
• Persistence
• Hope
• The human spirit’s desire to explore and soar
• Stability vs. excitement in marriage

Things I liked:

• Ryan Gosling is great in everything he does. So, there’s THAT.
• I fell in love with Claire Foy when I first saw her play Queen Elizabeth in the popular TV show THE CROWN.  I thought she was absolutely excellent in it and Claire Foy Crowned Emmy Winner
• The movie looks old, almost as if we’re watching a documentary.  They did a fantastic job showing the evolution of clothing, details in the home, architecture, culture, and everything about the NASA space program.  Even the NASA bathroom improved over time.
• The sound effects were noticeably incredible.  I’ll be surprised if they don’t get at least nominated for an Academy Award for sound and probably win it.
• Lucy Stafford is such an adorable little girl. Her story line broke my heart.
• I hope that what Neil Armstrong did on the moon in the movie is actually the truth.  If it is, that’s super touching.  If not, I’ll feel manipulated and annoyed.  Rumor has it that they interviewed his family, so I’m hoping that the little details in the movie came from them.  NASA has still never disclosed what personal items he brought on to Apollo 11.
• If you watch First Man in an IMAX theater, you’ll be treated to a bonus feature before the movie starts.  This is actually the first time Universal Pictures has used IMAX cameras to film a movie.  Surprising, right?
• We already know how the movie ends (they make it to the moon), but I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the little details and the events leading up to the big event.  Director Damien Chazelle did a great job creating an engaging film for an audience that would already know the finale.  His signature ending in all of his films is the lead actors looking at each other without speaking a word.  Powerful.
• Some of the voices are real recordings from the actual NASA space program.  For example, when Apollo 11 lands on the moon, you hear Charlie Duke.  Cool.
• The movie was shipped to theaters under the secret name “Sputnik.”  Ha ha
• Some really great special effects, but the movie doesn’t rely on lots of CGI to make an impact.

Things I didn’t like:

• It felt long.  It is long.
• LOTS of blurry shots and close-ups and pushing buttons.
• If you’re prone to vertigo or getting dizzy, this movie may not be for you.  I had to close my eyes several times in order to not feel nauseated by the spinning action.  You’ll want to sit as far back from the screen as possible.
• The storytelling, timeline, and many of the scenes are choppy.  It’s a stylistic choice that some viewers may not like.
• I was supposed to go to Florida this month to watch a Space X launch with my son, who had that on his Bucket List.  Unfortunately, the rescheduled the launch for a time when we couldn’t go, so we had to cancel our trip.  So sad and frustrating!  If you have successfully attended a launch, I would love to hear about it in the comments below!  If you’re interested in checking off Bucket List items like I am, be sure to visit my other web site and newest venture Empty Nest Travel Hacker. 

Funny lines:

• “I’m just saying what you’re thinking.” – Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll)

“Maybe you shouldn’t.” – Neil

• “Your dad’s going to the moon.” – Janet (Claire Foy)

“OK.” – Rick Armstrong (Luke Winters)

• “How would you describe the flight?” – reporter

“Well, the only thing I can say is it’s out of this world.” – Janet

Interesting lines:

• When Deke Slayton (played by Kyle Chandler) asked Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) why he thought space flight was so important, Neil explained that when you get a different vantage point, it changes your perspective.  He said, “It allows you to see things.”    I know flying in an airplane isn’t anything like traveling to the moon, but I always have improved perspective on my life when I’m on a plane looking out of the window.  My problems seem much smaller and insignificant.
• “It’ll be an adventure.” – Janet Armstrong (Claire Foy)
• “We need to fail down here so we don’t fail up there.” – Neil
• “At what cost?” – Deke Slayton

“It’s a little late to ask that question, don’t you think?” – Neil

• “We CHOOSE to go to the moon.” – President John F. Kennedy

Fun Fact:

• Ryan Gosling wanted to find a unique connection with Neil Armstrong and learned that they both had an interest in lunar music played on the theremin.  Have you ever heard of a theremin?  It really does have an out-of-this world sound.  Some of the musical score for the movie was used with a theremin.  It’s a funny instrument that looks like this:

Moog Etherwave Standard Theremin

Other inspiring space movies I really like because they explore the inner heart and mind of man, as well as outer space:

Apollo 13

Gravity 

Contact

Books to check out:

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

The Eagle Has Landed: The Story of Apollo 11

@trinaboice