2018 Film Review: First Man (2018)

Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Written by: Josh Singer
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke
IMDb Link

Some of the best movies in history have considered the scale of the universe against the perspective of one man. I think First Man attempts similar goals; it's a very intimate look at the life of one man who was at the very heart of humanity's greatest achievement. It's as much about Armstrong's long road to the moon as it is about mankind's.

That's the entire story of First Man: Armstrong's (Gosling) journey to the moon and the personal trials he faced while getting there. It's a slow, ponderous experience that relaxes in its idyllic moments, but never forgets the weight of the death he carried in his life, and never feels more alive than when we see him reach for the height of humanity. There's tragedy and doubt and the inability to connect, and the power of all that falling away as we gaze in to the eternity of space with Armstrong, the entirety of existence placed right next to the life of one person. It's sometimes uneven and there are a few moments where you'd wish the camera would stop shaking, but these flaws pale in comparison to the film's ambition and how it recognises the power of the achievement it shows.

What a way to show that achievement, too. Despite the film's generally deliberate pace, the switch to faster, nail-biting sequences of space flight contrast perfectly, the knowledge of control and testing and understanding played against the inherent uncertainty of life, the paranoia of that improbably small chance of failure. It's what makes the moments of success so much more satisfying, and why the awe the film inspires with its view of the universe feels earned, especially when we watch alongside the man himself.

Gosling as Armstrong puts him right at the centre of this tale, and he carries his role with that same brooding he's come to exude in his roles so well that it's as breathing to him. There's so much that he's capable of saying just with his eyes and with his hands, an ache or a twitch or the way the energy fades from his expression as he disconnects to save himself from feeling the weight of the deaths that beset his life; it's exactly as subtle as it needs to be, and in the few moments where he allows himself to show real emotion it pays off tremendously.

The Short Version: First Man is a terrific examination of Armstrong and the experiences that shaped his life, with Gosling providing a fantastic performance as the man who walked on the moon. It feels authentically human.

Rating: 8/10

Published November 16th, 2018