First Man (2018)
Director: Damien Chazelle
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason ClarkeRuntime: 141 minutes
Synopsis: A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Performances: 10/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Special Effects: 10/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Special Effects: 10/10
Verdict: Despite being Damien Chazelle's most recent release, "First Man" also serves as the young director's least talked about movie to date. "Whiplash" and "La La Land" are both instant classics in my eyes, and while I do enjoy both of them over the Neil Armstrong biopic, I still believe that it deserves as much acclaim as his previous projects.
"First Man" is quite the departure from Chazelle's very musical-heavy style, and that may be the reason why people don't remember it as fondly. Ironically enough, it acts as a very grounded portrayal of a man who made history by being the first to walk on the lunar surface. By diving deep into his personal life and struggles, it gave the character a dimension I wasn't expecting to get out of a movie like this one. Ryan Gosling as the lead is fantastic as usual, but so is Claire Foy, who plays his wife and rock Janet. The chemistry between the two felt too real, and the test that their relationship go through was one of the film's most interesting aspects. But what gave the film such a unique feel was its cinematography and editing, which beautifully contrasted Justin Hurwitz's almost dream-like score. Everything was moving so rapidly, to the point where I felt like I was experiencing a simulation of a space flight myself. It was intense, loud, even at times nauseating, but truly allowed us to put ourselves in Armstrong's shoes. It's also impossible to talk about "First Man" without mentioning the gorgeous visual effects and realistic recreation of the 1960s.
It truly is surprising to me that the film wasn't as much of a success as Chazelle's previous work. It's certainly one of the best biopics to come out recently and one I hope will be more appreciated with time.
"First Man" is quite the departure from Chazelle's very musical-heavy style, and that may be the reason why people don't remember it as fondly. Ironically enough, it acts as a very grounded portrayal of a man who made history by being the first to walk on the lunar surface. By diving deep into his personal life and struggles, it gave the character a dimension I wasn't expecting to get out of a movie like this one. Ryan Gosling as the lead is fantastic as usual, but so is Claire Foy, who plays his wife and rock Janet. The chemistry between the two felt too real, and the test that their relationship go through was one of the film's most interesting aspects. But what gave the film such a unique feel was its cinematography and editing, which beautifully contrasted Justin Hurwitz's almost dream-like score. Everything was moving so rapidly, to the point where I felt like I was experiencing a simulation of a space flight myself. It was intense, loud, even at times nauseating, but truly allowed us to put ourselves in Armstrong's shoes. It's also impossible to talk about "First Man" without mentioning the gorgeous visual effects and realistic recreation of the 1960s.
It truly is surprising to me that the film wasn't as much of a success as Chazelle's previous work. It's certainly one of the best biopics to come out recently and one I hope will be more appreciated with time.
FINAL GRADE: 9/10
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