First Man

First Man

Starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Corey Stoll, Kyle Chandler

Directed by Damien Chazelle

The Story:
After the untimely loss of his young daughter, Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) applies to be a NASA astronaut, and gets accepted to the program.  As he showcases amazing intelligence and fortitude, he gains the respect of fellow astronauts and highers up, including Deke Skayton (Kyle Chandler), who informs Neil that he will be the first man to attempt to fly to the moon.

Neil's wife Janet (Claire Foy) tends to events at home, including handling her two young sons, and dealing with Neil's distant attitude.  She keeps a cool composure, but inside she's terrified about what could happen, since many of Neil's friends and fellow astronauts have died in preparations.  Finally, it comes time for Neil and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll) and Michael Collins (Lukas Haas) to do what no one thought possible, and change history forever.

The Synopsis:
Damien Chazelle is one of film's most recent fantastic directors, delivering strong films like "Whiplash" and "La La Land," so when it came time to direct a biopic about the first man on the moon, Chazelle was a perfect choice to sit in the chair.  He brought his own unique spin on the story, delivering a compelling, thought-provoking true life story but also blending it with a complete cinematic experience - where you truly feel like you're a member of Neil Armstrong's team as they head to the moon by changing the film to a first person point of view, and fully immersing you with all the sounds, visuals, and claustrophobia that the first astronauts felt.

Neil Armstrong was a very private person, a man who never really sought fame or popularity, and was the definition of a 1960s man - stoic, calculated, unemotional.  In fact, there's only a few moments in the film where you see Armstrong cry, for two vastly different reasons, and his voice never changes fluctuation - you don't hear him scream or yell, even when you expect him to.  Ryan Gosling - who worked with Chazelle previously in "La La Land" - captures Neil Armstrong as only Gosling can, and doing it with excellence that will undoubtedly be praised in the coming awards season.

Yet the film isn't just about Neil Armstrong, but about the events surrounding his historic mission.  It's no spoiler to say he eventually accomplishes his goal of landing on the moon, but the story behind how he got there is completely surreal and shocking, and it's an insult to the memories of all the men who lost their lives for the sake of reaching the moon to say that the entire thing was staged, which is what some people think.  Armstrong had to deal with the deaths of several of his friends, and we really see the sacrifice these men went through in order to beat the Soviets and reach the moon, as they even faced criticism from a war-weary public who felt that their taxpayer money could've gone to something more personal.  This was a years-long endeavor, and it was far from needless - it proved that there were people back then who gave up everything to attain the unattainable, and gave hope and inspiration to millions.

Yet the astronauts weren't the only ones who sacrificed everything, and Chazelle beautifully weaved the story to include the wives of the astronauts who, even though they never faced any physical danger - had to deal with the psychological toll being an astronaut's wife meant.  Golden Globe and Emmy winner Claire Foy encapsulates this as Janet Armstrong, Neil's long-suffering wife who had to endure the constant fear of loosing her husband, as she sees the wives of other astronauts having to deal with that reality themselves.  She blends this insecurity with sheer strength as she demands answers, and confronts her visibly distant husband the night before he's set to leave by demanding him to sit and talk with their kids about the real possibility that he might not return.  Foy, like Gosling, will hopefully receive some much-deserved recognition in the coming months, as both give phenomenal performances.

What sets "First Man" apart from other biopics is how Chazelle was able to blend the story with immersing us with the actual big event.  Even the first scene - which involved Armstrong trying an X-15 flight - was filled to the brim with everything you'd ask for to be included in the plane without actually being there physically.  You see through Armstrong's eyes, hear the sounds around him like you're right there, and feel the tightness and stunning awe as he did, and that only escalates to the final mission.  As the men are launched into space, you feel like you're also being hurled through the air as well, giving "First Man" the rare distinction of being one of those films that you must see in the biggest, best theater you can possibly find, because you'll experience it more powerfully than watching it on your TV screen at home.

The Summary:
With strong performances and a fully immersed filming style, "First Man" is more than just the heroic story of Neil Armstrong, but allows you to sit in the pilot's seat with him and experience what it must've felt like for the first man to walk on the moon - all from the comfort of your theater seat.

The Score: A+