America was a country that in eight short years had lived up to the command of its slain hero president and put a man on the moon. The 1960s saw vast and unsettling social change, the beginnings of white flight and urban decline and the upheaval and national trauma of Vietnam.īut for that single moment staring heavenwards – as the world focused on the sheer derring-do and genius of American ingenuity – none of that really seemed to matter. This was a tumultuous period that had seen Kennedy slain, the civil rights movement triumph and then despair over the killing of Martin Luther King and the spreading blaze of race riots. The event, coming as it did at the end of the turbulent 1960s, functioned as a brief national antidote to the whole decade. Indeed, in many ways Armstrong's triumph was a much-needed feelgood counterpoint to the horrors of the Kennedy killing. Kennedy had died back in 1963, laid low by an assassin's bullet in another one of those moments that all Americans remember. He was also fulfilling the dreams of that other icon of muscular American patriotism, President John F Kennedy, who had urged his nation in 1961 to go forwards to reach for the moon – and put one over the Soviets at the same time. The man doing the walking was born in the small town of Wapakoneta, Ohio: about as all-American as you can get.
The flag planted on the moon was an American flag. The fact that this film may eventually be considered Chazelle's 6th or 7th best and is still this excellent, is a tribute to his talent.The rhetoric was universal, but it was really a wholeheartedly American triumph. He's one of the best directors currently working. "First Man" is another showcase of Chazelle's mastery. Only the most talented of filmmakers, which Chazelle is, could pull it off. The choice to focus on Armstrong's objectively less captivating homelife rather than the moon mission is risky. This is a giant story told on a deliberately small scale. Chazelle crafts a personal, intimate film and shoots it in a creative way that uses a variety of framing choices so the closeups never feel stale. He's careful not to overdo it those areas, instead focusing on Armstrong's psyche and life outside the space shuttle.
He doesn't take the conventional approach to a space movie, which is to hammer viewers with showy visuals and action sequences. They guy is simply so skilled at what he does that his impact stands out among all the other standouts in his movies. For as great as Gosling and Foy are, Damien Chazelle is the star of this movie, just like he has been the star of every one of his movies. Look for her to add another award nomination to her resume come that time of year. She's strong as a quiet devoted partner and strong when she senses the need to speak up. Foy is smart and measured with every choice she makes, and she never comes across as unhinged or overly supportive to a point of unbelievability. Her outbursts stand out in such stark contrast to the silence that we see from the other characters. When she finally does unleash her emotions, it's startling. She restrains for the most part, but her building frustration is apparent throughout. Armstrong's wife Janet (Claire Foy) is a classic case of a spouse desperate to glimpse beyond his emotional shield. They suffered in silence, which no doubt frustrated many family members, especially spouses. He clearly comes from a generation that did not display emotion. Neil is much the same except even less outwardly expressive. He is often an understated actor, choosing to let his subtle facial movements and glints of the eyes do as much talking as what actually comes out of his mouth. Gosling understands this and plays to Armstrong's stoicism perfectly. This story is about people doing their jobs, completing their missions. There are virtually no loud outbursts or emotional speeches. The rest of the movie, aside from the moon landing, is remarkably tame. The scene is spectacular visually and in every sense of filmmaking execution. I don't think a single cell in my body flinched for a solid five minutes as I watched Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) fight to keep his craft from floating away into space. The opening scene will take your breath away.