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8

Diego96Jul 21, 2023

Although not better or on the same level as "Whiplash" and "La La Land", "First Man" is a good movie and deserved more appreciation from the public, but ended up being underestimated. The main positive point of the film, without a doubt, areAlthough not better or on the same level as "Whiplash" and "La La Land", "First Man" is a good movie and deserved more appreciation from the public, but ended up being underestimated. The main positive point of the film, without a doubt, are its visual effects.… Expand

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5

liamexeJun 10, 2023

I'll start my review by stating that I enjoy intense, dramatic films that most people find dull. I was excited to see this movie since it sounded interesting, but it ended up being one of the most dull, repetitive, self-indulgent, andI'll start my review by stating that I enjoy intense, dramatic films that most people find dull. I was excited to see this movie since it sounded interesting, but it ended up being one of the most dull, repetitive, self-indulgent, and painfully slow films I have ever seen. To sit through the entire movie required extreme self-control. It offers no real understanding of Neil Armstrong's biography, the NASA space programme, or the moon landing. There are simply a lot of long, silent, dramatic looks. Save yourself some time and skip this movie. Nothing is lacking for you. A fantastic musical composition is crucial to me because I major in music. There is no "so-called" music score. What happened to the lavish celebrations and gripping films?… Expand

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10

Stanley3563May 17, 2023

any review lower than a 10 has been written by a infant child, best to ignore these reviews and listen to the ones that can appreciate the grand gos.

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5

HabibiehakimFeb 18, 2023

First Man feels so unenergized, a super lame biopic film about one of the greatest event in human history, it just lacks so many lighter side of the story, and it more focus on the depressed side of it that it could definitely work but notFirst Man feels so unenergized, a super lame biopic film about one of the greatest event in human history, it just lacks so many lighter side of the story, and it more focus on the depressed side of it that it could definitely work but not for me, and i found it mostly boring and too long, Ryan Gosling definitely not my First Man to be considered for this role but he's doing alright just like the rest of the cast, the visual are great, the sound and score was great, and of course the moon landing sequence was visually stunning and the ending was good, and besides that it still have some decent part, but really for the most part it was downright flat and boring, and i feel like just wanna go straight to 1969, First Man wasn't like any of Damien Chazelle other film, Whiplash was my favourite movie of all time, La La Land was one of my favourite Musical, and First Man was the first one without any musical theme in Damien Chazelle's career and i can say that this movie is a surprise failure.… Expand

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8

CarlElmoreNov 22, 2022

The moon landing scene is probably one of the best outer space scenes in a film.

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8

nnogohkoSep 2, 2022

I love this movie. Linus Sandgren's cinematography is just so beautiful and that alone is enough to see this film. How Damian Chazelle seamlessly captures Neil Armstrong's brutal personal life trying to get to the moon is simply aweI love this movie. Linus Sandgren's cinematography is just so beautiful and that alone is enough to see this film. How Damian Chazelle seamlessly captures Neil Armstrong's brutal personal life trying to get to the moon is simply awe inspiring. The family scenes are one of my favorite moments in the film and it all feels poignant yet magical for some reason. I don't really know how he did it. This film is also pretty tragic and I love that it depicted the extremely dangerous side of the mission pretty intensively, not just glossing over it. Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy are magnificent as their respective roles and the supporting actors like Jason Clarke and This is one of those films I regret to have not seen in theaters, in an IMAX screen. I have watched my blu ray copy numerous times now and even on my TV screen, I can feel the rattling and the claustrophobic feeling in the X15. The only times when the film does drag is in the middle section where the film decides to depict the conferences of the mission and some political subtext even though the heart of the film was Neil Armstrong's personal journey. Those minor flaws aside, this film is a must see and I hope it gets a re-release in an IMAX screen again sometime.… Expand

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6

NickTheCritickAug 10, 2022

This is the best Chazelle's movie and of course his most watchable one. The screenplay doesn't feel too much overloaded here and Gosling offers a more convincing performance than usual (probabily his best one after Refn "Drive").

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0

WayTooBadMar 18, 2022

This movie ruined Ryan Gosling in my eyes, I used to enjoy the roles he played, the silent strong and dangerous guy thinking he has a dimension which is not visible but there. Now he is just boring to death in my eyes.

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7

DawdlingPoetNov 24, 2021

This is quite an insightful watch. I certainly felt more informed about Neil Armstrongs life, in terms of his personal background, having seen the film and I thought that Ryan Gosling gave a pretty good performance in the main role. he wasThis is quite an insightful watch. I certainly felt more informed about Neil Armstrongs life, in terms of his personal background, having seen the film and I thought that Ryan Gosling gave a pretty good performance in the main role. he was quite a sort of distant person, in more ways than one but I could understand that, from his perspective. The visual effects aren't too bad either. Some of the dialogue was a little muffled and hard to follow fully, which was frustrating, although I guess its somewhat fair to distinguish between the smaller talk during down time and the loud, edge of your seat moments when things are clearly precarious. As an insightful biopic its good but it certainly didn't grab me or keep me engrossed in the way that other such films manage to, thats what I thought.

Overall, however, yes; I would recommend this film, if you'd like to know a bit more about the Armstrong family.… Expand

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5

tonyGreenOct 31, 2021

Just doesn't quite do enough with the source material. I appreciate the accuracy, but for me just too much earth bound melodrama, the actual moonshot seemed rushed.

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10

Acquit77Jul 19, 2021

⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙●■●■●■●■●■●■●■●■●
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷%÷

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8

Josephgamers65Jun 5, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First Man is one of my fav movies of 2018 I love the beginning of space like apollo 13 first man apollo 13 is one of my fav movies from that This movie is about Neil Armstrong going to the moon on Apollo 11 while his daughter had cancer she died which really messed with Neil that started him to really not have to speak to Elliot is one of his friends loses him also I believe in a crash than an apollo one had a fire that made him more more emotion for him for his character so he does not what to say anymore to his wife and his kids also this movie is good very good accurate of Neil Armstrong pass and the space mission also I do like this is focused on Neil Armstrong, not just the mission you care what Neil Armstrong is going through the shots In this movie is so beautiful I love space so watching this movie is just remarkable one of my fav scenes in this entire movie is the bracelet scene was emotional to watch Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong is really good it make since why he does what he does people say that it is not that strong it is to me it make since why he acts like that now the really only thing what is holding this back to me is that runtime it is a little long so u start to wonder is it going to pick up from the beginning not really But this movie is one of my fav space movies and my fav movie from 2018 so I give First Man an B+… Expand

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2

BroyaxApr 19, 2021

Quelle déception… moi qui croyais voir un film sur l’exploit technique et humain, j’ai surtout vu un psychodrame pleurnichard bien mal réalisé ! La caméra atteinte de Parkinson, c’est vraiment pénible : oui, on a bien compris que ça secoueQuelle déception… moi qui croyais voir un film sur l’exploit technique et humain, j’ai surtout vu un psychodrame pleurnichard bien mal réalisé ! La caméra atteinte de Parkinson, c’est vraiment pénible : oui, on a bien compris que ça secoue là-dedans… pas la peine d’en faire des tonnes… et toutes ces séquences mal cadrées qui ne montrent rien, à part les yeux de Gosling, un bout de lucarne et… des secousses.

Heureusement, de temps en temps, les effets spéciaux servent tout de même à quelque chose et l’alunissage par exemple (ou le vol du tout début) est relativement bien fait même si le sujet et les évènements qui ont fait l’Histoire sont fortement dilués… car les trois quarts du film ne sont en vérité que la vie privée de Monsieur Armstrong, sa gamine malade, sa femme qui tire la gueule (une mégère) et son gamin attardé hyper-actif qui fait chier.

En avant donc la fusée et quelques échecs qui auraient mérité davantage d’attention… de même que les réussites. Mais non les violons reviennent sans cesse et bouffent le film décidément bien mal en point… avec, cela va de soi, la guimauve à seulement deux dollars avec de temps à autre des types dans une carlingue qui actionnent des commutateurs.

Du coup, les principales étapes de cette épopée spatiale (dont l’étape finale) sont étonnamment escamotées… tout ça pour ça, bah dis donc, quelle merde !… Expand

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8

geewahDec 26, 2020

Well produced biopic that uses Armstrong's personal tragedy to great effect without being overly soppy.
Gosling is perfectly cast as Neil Armstrong.

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4

zNeverSleepingOct 20, 2020

Ao menos a primeira vista, o longa me pareceu entediante. É muito incomum da minha parte largar filmes na metade, mas aqui foi bem difícil não tomar essa atitude. Talvez algum dai eu reveja e tenha uma percepção diferente.

Audio: English, noAo menos a primeira vista, o longa me pareceu entediante. É muito incomum da minha parte largar filmes na metade, mas aqui foi bem difícil não tomar essa atitude. Talvez algum dai eu reveja e tenha uma percepção diferente.

Audio: English, no subtitles - Q60T 50' TV Speakers [Dolby 7.1]
Quality: 4K HDR [Bluray]… Expand

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8

icotzabbSep 28, 2020

The unexpected joy of First Man arises not from the penultimate act of "slipping earths bonds" but rather from understanding the unrelenting personal tragedies for those involved. Couple that with breathtaking visuals and a masterfullyThe unexpected joy of First Man arises not from the penultimate act of "slipping earths bonds" but rather from understanding the unrelenting personal tragedies for those involved. Couple that with breathtaking visuals and a masterfully understated substructure and you are quite literally thrown not only into the lunar module but you feel the stakes and are bound to the earth by the weight of the human experience, such that the trip is made all the more gratifying… Expand

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6

GazMoviesSep 20, 2020

Very realistic, raw and emotional. The film is very slow and quite boring it feels too long as well I think they could have got it under 2 Hours. It is a Biopic and a character study focused on Neil Armstrong the first man on the moonVery realistic, raw and emotional. The film is very slow and quite boring it feels too long as well I think they could have got it under 2 Hours. It is a Biopic and a character study focused on Neil Armstrong the first man on the moon (Spoilers I guess lol) Don't go into this expecting a space adventure it isn't that type of movie. The sound effects used in this film are great as well as the shaking camera effects I can see why some people got motion sickness watching this. They do a good job of making you feel really confined and claustrophobic. I do think they over used the close up shots we spend most of the movie 2 Inches from the actors faces. Was an Okay movie I won't be rushing to watch it again.… Expand

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9

Movie_FreakAug 22, 2020

First Man is great! I watched this movie yesterday on Netflix and was totally into it from the first second. Almost everything is perfect. It didn't really focus much on Neil Armstrong's daughter's death or on his personal life which turnedFirst Man is great! I watched this movie yesterday on Netflix and was totally into it from the first second. Almost everything is perfect. It didn't really focus much on Neil Armstrong's daughter's death or on his personal life which turned out to be a very good thing. They didn't overdo it with the emotional aspects as well and kept everything remarkably believable. Add to that truly stunning sound effects ad you have a sensational watch. From a technical standpoint, First Man is truly incredible with astonishing visual effects, great camerawork and superb editing. The fact that this didn't win, or WASN'T EVEN NOMINATED for editing and cinematography at the oscars didn't make any sense. Possibly the only problem I had was the middle, when they seemed to slow down the pace of the film too much and just focus on the mission of docking was a bit boring and annoying. But even then, there's no doubt First Man is a feat of film making, with technical brilliance, great performances and direction!!!… Expand

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10

Kristoff_PLJun 25, 2020

Must watch , part of Space exploration great history and also great movie in all aspects!!! A MUST!!!

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5

zklJun 20, 2020

actually boring enough to prompt me to switch out after the first 10 minutes

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10

eagleeyevikingMay 19, 2020

Workmanlike in its approach and deeply personal, while showing the importance of determination, struggle, and failure to achieve success, "First Man" is technically and emotively flawless.

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7

keanexMar 27, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love Damien Chazelle, Ryan Gosling is my favorite actor, and the moon interests me, despite that, I found First Man to be adequate at best. I don't know how much of it is Hollywood vs truth, but I felt that the movie did a decent job portraying the excitement and fear that would have been present in the world at the time surrounding the moon race. It was cool to learn about the trials and tribulations leading up to the Moon landing, and it was gorgeous seeing the Moon portrayed in the movie. I felt pretty uninspired though, and finished it over two nights because it didn't hold my attention well.… Expand

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8

SoakerCityMar 3, 2020

A very good, very enjoyable film that might have benefitted from a less wooden lead, but hey maybe Neil Armstrong was that stern. I feel like we learned more about the situation than the man, who remains enigmatic, as portrayed by RyanA very good, very enjoyable film that might have benefitted from a less wooden lead, but hey maybe Neil Armstrong was that stern. I feel like we learned more about the situation than the man, who remains enigmatic, as portrayed by Ryan Gosling. The plot, cinemo, and effects are excellent, as is the supporting cast. This film was quite moving at many times. The space scenes and launches are extraordinarily well done. Inspiring.… Expand

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1

PamoFeb 15, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very boring plot and irrelevant scenes. Don’t know why it got chosen for an Oscar. In one of the first scenes Neil Armstrong is in a shaking aircraft for no reason at all. And once he lands one the moon he takes like 5 minutes just staring at the ground for no reason at all. Honestly it is a very slow movie. I could hardly stay awake through this movie. My biggest regret is I'll never get those 2 hours back. How do you make one of the most exciting events in our history so painfully boring?… Expand

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7

bfoore90Feb 10, 2020

Similar to Dunkirk, its the story of the event Apollo 11. Claire Foy gives the best performance in the film and the cinematography more than makes up for its slow and sluggish pacing. This film is wonderfully shot

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9

AWESOM-0Jan 26, 2020

Very, very good movie. Ryan Gosling does a great job in portraying Mr Armstrong (assuming that’s how he was). Plus, anytime you can debunk two conspiracy theories at the same time, that’s a bonus.

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8

TheEventsOf1989Jan 10, 2020

"First Man" is a haunting exploration of Neil Armstrong's emotional journey. While most of the major reveals are known, it still seems as though not many people are aware of Neil's struggles. There isn't any "Oh **** reveals, but most dramas"First Man" is a haunting exploration of Neil Armstrong's emotional journey. While most of the major reveals are known, it still seems as though not many people are aware of Neil's struggles. There isn't any "Oh **** reveals, but most dramas don't need any. The film is slow, that doesn't mean its boring. The visuals are excellent.… Expand

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6

NautendoDec 31, 2019

A movie about the first man to place a footprint on the moon. This movie about Neil Armstrong contains thrilling and sad moments, and I kind of missed the happiness in this movie. I think "First Man" fits more with an age rating of 12 insteadA movie about the first man to place a footprint on the moon. This movie about Neil Armstrong contains thrilling and sad moments, and I kind of missed the happiness in this movie. I think "First Man" fits more with an age rating of 12 instead of 6, because it contains some deaths and straight up shocking moments.
Overall, this movie is fine. I don't know if I should recommend it or not though.… Expand

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6

BerikDec 12, 2019

First man is a movie about Neil Armstrongs depressing journey to getting to the moon. He's played by Ryan Gosling, and describes his 8+ years preparation and inner turmoils. And what it barely features is the actual pressence on the moon.First man is a movie about Neil Armstrongs depressing journey to getting to the moon. He's played by Ryan Gosling, and describes his 8+ years preparation and inner turmoils. And what it barely features is the actual pressence on the moon.

The movie mostly flashes out the loss of Neil's daughter called Karen, and the friends and colleagues who died in preparation for the Moon mission. Apart from it being interesting, it doesn't come across as tense or exciting due to Ryan Gosling's questionable acting. During much of the movie Ryan looks like he doesn't know where he is. I liked how the movie didn't shy away from using technical terms, and shows the un-romantic side of science. I however wished that they would have shown the walk on the moon, the planting of the flag, the collecting of rocks. Instead we get a scene where Neil drops a bracelet, and next thing you know he's already back at Earth. Dissapointing.

The movie misses something incredibly important: A climax. The movie fades to black after an incredibly awkard scene, and we are left with more questions than when we stepped into the movie. It's an average watch, and i give it a 6/10.… Expand

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8

HollywoodGleeNov 27, 2019

First Man (2018), a newly released biopic on the Space Era Neil Armstrong, from self-
claimed film auteur and Academy Award-Winning Director, Damian Chazelle (La La Land), hits all the marks for a successful box office take in the currentFirst Man (2018), a newly released biopic on the Space Era Neil Armstrong, from self-
claimed film auteur and Academy Award-Winning Director, Damian Chazelle (La La Land), hits all the marks for a successful box office take in the current climate. First Man has already received nominations for best film from the Oscar-campaign-launching, Venice International Film Festival (Golden Lion Award) and the massive Toronto International Film Festival (The People’s Choice Award).

Oscar-winning, La La Land composer extraordinaire, Justin Hurwitz, returns to the Chazelle fold, bringing slightly more than is required for effect with a mesmerizing First Man score. Hurwitz creates such a beautiful composition it is easy to overlook its occasional intrusiveness. Linus Sandgren (Best Cinematography Oscar for La La Land) is also back with his roving camera movement which is a bit dizzying. For the most part, despite a jar or two (not surprising with Sandgren’s camera shooting style) Editor Tom Cross, kept the flow fairly continuous, if not seamless. And, last but not least, Canadian-born actor, Ryan Gosling, resumes his La La Land Sebastian minimalist acting style, as Neil Armstrong. Jason Clarke and Kyle Chandler provide excellent supporting characters as Edward Higgins White and Deke Slayton. Claire Foy turns in the film’s deep, emotional performance as Janet Armstrong, wife of Neil Armstrong, that the other characters either don’t bring or can’t bring to the story. Gosling almost gets there! The costuming, hair, makeup and production design all add credence to the depicted period in a convincing manner.

All in all, First Man is a nicely done film and it moves Director Chazelle up a notch on the Hollywood list of bigger budgeted films. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, Steven Spielberg received an Executive Producer credit. Nevertheless. the opening sequence, glaringly fails. The imagery is blatantly and conspicuously shot in an empty studio. I know Chazelle felt the lack of a bigger budget with La La Land not only curtailed his efforts but hamstrung his vision of a big-production, Hollywood-style musical of yesteryear. I like all three of Director Chazzelle’s full-length, feature films; Whiplash (2014) La La Land (2016) and First Man (2018).

As I watched the credits roll yesterday night, I noticed the film was based on the New York Times Bestseller First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong from James R. Hansen (who seemingly makes a cameo in the film). Josh Singer [The Post (2017) and Spotlight (2015)] gets credit for the screenplay. In my opinion, the best part of the film, by far, is the special effects. And Chazelle shot on 35MM with IMAX cameras.

The spectacular rocket launches and the use of mirror-effects heighten sensibilities. Furthermore, the use of smoke and gasses also added a deft sense of the surreal and a touch of dream logic. Also, Chazelle pumps in some nice archival footage and effectively utilizes foreshadowing with early frames of daytime, lunar shots. Screenwriter Singer also weaves some heady lines referencing an often under-reported and underappreciated aspect of the Space Program and NASA. Rory Kennedy’s documentary, Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow recently aired on Discovery Channel, October 13th, and details NASA’s mission as a viable reporting agency on the health of Planet Earth and Singer encodes this concept as Armstrong is asked, “Why do we explore and travel in space?”

Smartly crafting a timely topic of space exploration and NASA, Chazelle and company manage to bring the vessel home and to fruition with another buzz-worthy, award-contending product with First Man. What the film does well, it does very well! Warmly recommended.… Expand

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5

gracjanskiNov 11, 2019

I found it boring, because you know the end of the movie. In addition it was a team, that managed to accomplish this mission, not just one man.

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10

Eaj6Oct 8, 2019

Truly one of my favorite movies about space journeys and moon landings. The attention to detail and accuracy amazed me. Also the cinematography was absolutly stunning! I loved it when the Apollo 11 spacecraft launched. I fully recommend this movie!

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10

Amir11Sep 15, 2019

It's amazing! Just outstanding and very real. Everything seems to be best. Story is simple but, with this crew, nothing is going to be simple...

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9

JiricekisbestAug 31, 2019

An amazing movie about landing on the moon. Maybe it is a pity that there is too much family and not so much training and the trip itself to the moon. The effects in this movie are very well done and I don't blame the film for winning anAn amazing movie about landing on the moon. Maybe it is a pity that there is too much family and not so much training and the trip itself to the moon. The effects in this movie are very well done and I don't blame the film for winning an Oscar. Maybe the truth is that the songs and sounds don't appear much here and that the film will be drawn to the end, but it is still a very well-made film with great acting performances.… Expand

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7

TheRaggedFlygonAug 25, 2019

First Man is a good movie, especially for those that enjoy learning about space travel and its history. I think that Chazelle's direction and Gosling's acting are both solid throughout this film. The tone accurately reflects the dangerFirst Man is a good movie, especially for those that enjoy learning about space travel and its history. I think that Chazelle's direction and Gosling's acting are both solid throughout this film. The tone accurately reflects the danger associated with the early Apollo missions. As we continue to follow Armstrong's journey leading up to the Apollo 11 mission we are given a glimpse into how it affects his familial relationships and how following the various other tragedies within NASA, the situation tenses as time goes on. The writing is consistent throughout, although I personally would have preferred a bit of a lighter tone at times, and the acting is believable.

Where my problem with this film comes is that I feel that while it checks the boxes of what makes it a "good film" in terms of the quality of its production and acting, the film falls short on the story that it is trying to tell. The film builds up to a climax that the audience already knows what is going to happen (the title of the film essentially "spoils" the result of the film for those unfamiliar with American history). This resulted in me not really caring about what was going to happen since I already knew. I had not emotional investment with the characters. I think that First Man is a fine, watchable movie. Those interested will probably learn something about NASA's early days, but many will leave the theater wondering why they were supposed to care about what happens.… Expand

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7

Voodoo123Jul 23, 2019

+Great in 4k UHD format
+Fantastic visual effects
+Great dramatic screenplay +Excellent cast deliver memorable performances -The unusal mix of drama and action gives the film 'odd pacing' Unsure what to expect going in, first man exceeded my+Great in 4k UHD format
+Fantastic visual effects
+Great dramatic screenplay
+Excellent cast deliver memorable performances
-The unusal mix of drama and action gives the film 'odd pacing'

Unsure what to expect going in, first man exceeded my expectations and is a well produced and entertaining movie....
That being said, my wish for the film to explore the fantastically human scientific achievement of reaching the moon(esp for 1960's!) sadly was not the focus here (although is certainly a large portion of what is here). Instead we explore the psyche of Mr Armstrong in a large focal point of the movie and source of much of said drama. Here is where first man is weakest as we watch a quite normal and mundane family with the reserved and considered intellectual family portrayed. I will say though that Claire Foy was excellent in these scenes likely as her character had more freedom to express her emotions as the 'emotional 60's housewife' than the average stoic 60's american astronaut! None-the-less first man is a movie I would recommend to anyone remotely interested in the subject matter.… Expand

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5

jason_87Jul 22, 2019

There are flashes of a good movie, here. I really appreciated the effort taken to put the audience inside the sights and sounds of the missions. I also thought it was an interesting idea to focus more on Armstrong, as a person. However, I'mThere are flashes of a good movie, here. I really appreciated the effort taken to put the audience inside the sights and sounds of the missions. I also thought it was an interesting idea to focus more on Armstrong, as a person. However, I'm not sure that we really get any insight.

A biopic isn't a documentary, so we know there is creative license. I still feel like there is something missing, though. The movie's narrative seems to become very myopic. I felt like it there was clearly more to Armstrong but that the movie wanted to only show a narrow interpretation of him. And ultimately, the movie really stars to drag. I didn't want it to be boring but I have to admit that's probably the best word for it.… Expand

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8

The3AcademySinsJul 22, 2019

The third film from Damien Chazelle definitely does its best to change up his formula, and he does a fantastic job of expanding on his style. The music and production design are incredible, as is par for the course. Ryan Gosling gives aThe third film from Damien Chazelle definitely does its best to change up his formula, and he does a fantastic job of expanding on his style. The music and production design are incredible, as is par for the course. Ryan Gosling gives a grounded, breathtaking performance, and does a lot of justice to Neil Armstrong as he is portrayed in James R. Hansen's novel. The cinematography is top notch, and apart from being unnecessarily slow at times, this is a wonderful real-life drama.… Expand

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10

freeKade1kaJul 14, 2019

Excellent movie. Ryan Gosling perfect as always. Damien Chazelle can't make bad movie

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9

superfieldsJul 9, 2019

A great journey into the triumph and constant persistence of the human spirit to one end, the moon. I enjoyed this film from start to finish.

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7

KenRMay 28, 2019

I expected First Man to be first class – yes, it was interesting and often involving but with so many cheap hand-held shots all being filmed with close-up lenses or a zoom set in full-tight frame it became a nauseous experience. Big imagesI expected First Man to be first class – yes, it was interesting and often involving but with so many cheap hand-held shots all being filmed with close-up lenses or a zoom set in full-tight frame it became a nauseous experience. Big images shaking all over the screen for such a long running time hardly helped endear this epic to the viewer – pity those who may have seen it in IMAX or 3D!. Some scenes tended to be stretched till interest became strained, with much of the emotion being lost before the next sequence began. Were the NASA Toilets truly as dirty as these were portrayed - adding health risks for these important men? (talk about space program budget restraints!) And no, I would not like to ride in a space capsule. It was interesting to learn a little more about the personal lives but these scenes too, were a little heavy-handed at times. On the plus side, some performances were credible and when the camera was put on a tripod we got some nice looking vistas. The Award winning music score helped add some emotional high spots without being overbearing. And no, I would not like to ride a space capsule. Good to be able to actually read the end credit crawl with decent sized lettering for a change - this time, that portion of the budget was well spent.… Expand

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8

DP-2187Jan 1, 2019

With each movie Damien Chazelle releases, it is hard to discern as to which is his best, and First Man does not derail from this trend. First Man defies that the norms that we have come to expect by unabashedly focusing on the characters,With each movie Damien Chazelle releases, it is hard to discern as to which is his best, and First Man does not derail from this trend. First Man defies that the norms that we have come to expect by unabashedly focusing on the characters, rather than a journey to the final frontier and the wonder, curiosity, the drive for exploration and the setbacks along the way, that comes with it. It focuses on the sorrow that comes with losing loved ones, the fear that comes a profession rife with risk, the struggle to reassure oneself as well as loved ones of a positive outcome and the drive to carry on and persevere despite the adversity.
The story and the struggle are brought to life by the film's leads, Ryan Gosling, who yet again proves himself to be an actor of high caliber and not another wallpaper for the phones of preteen girls, with a realistic and sincere portrayal of Neil Armstrong, telling us his untold experiences with respect and integrity; and Claire Foy, playing the voice of fear and paranoia, Jan Armstrong, with such honesty and empathy, that makes Jan, the best character in the film and Mrs. Foy, a tour de force in modern cinema.
It is evident in First Man's camera work and score, the the cinematographers and composer are able to compliment the movie with up-close and personal shots, that fit First Man's personal and dramatic tale, unlike most dramas with a grandiose setting such as There Will Be Blood or Full Metal Jacket. Justin Hurwitz proves again, for the third time, that he is able to set the mood and enhance the themes expressed throughout the film, with his subtle yet awe-inspiring synthesizer score.
Whilst there is a lot to praise First Man for, its editing is not one of those aspects. First Man's editing was shockingly disappointing, especially considering Chazelle's other films, Whiplash and La La Land, had editing that perfectly complimented their stories. It felt like a poorly made Nolan film, trying to comprehend and rearrange the scenes, to make some sense of them. At times, I felt that the team could have added more to better enforce the the mood and tone of the film. Verdict: Chazelle proves that he is capable of capturing tales of a larger scale, while remaining true to what he does best. Josh Singer's work in putting characters in the limelight, proves to encourage a new perspective on storytelling. The cast is stellar and deserving of all the praise received and the same can be said for the rest of the production team. Despite its poor editing, the direction, acting, story, score, special effects and production quality, each are reason enough to watch First Man.… Expand

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6

Bertaut1Oct 26, 2018

Aesthetically laudable, emotionally vapid

More an intimate character drama than a grandiose examination of man's place in the cosmos, First Man is more concerned with domesticity than the actual journey to the moon, attempting to demonstrateAesthetically laudable, emotionally vapid

More an intimate character drama than a grandiose examination of man's place in the cosmos, First Man is more concerned with domesticity than the actual journey to the moon, attempting to demonstrate that behind the great moments of history exist personal demons and private motivations. Nothing wrong with that of course - contextualising small character beats against a larger historical canvas can produce compelling cinema. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line (1998), for example, uses the Battle of Guadalcanal as the background against which to engage personalised existential Heideggerian philosophical conundrums, whilst Michael Mann's Ali (2001) is more interested in Ali's private struggles outside the ring than his public bouts within it. However, for this kind of storytelling to work, one thing is essential - emotional connection. The audience must, in some way, care about the people on screen, otherwise their introspective problems are more than likely to feel like they are just getting in the way of the larger story. And that's exactly what happens in First Man - there is a lifelessness at the film's core, an emotional vapidity that can't be filled by exceptional technical achievements and laudable craft.

Based on James R. Hansen's, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong (2005), the film begins in 1961, and hits all the beats you'd expect in the lead up to the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, including the death of his daughter, Karen (Lucy Stafford) from a brain tumour; his marriage problems with his first wife, Janet (Claire Foy); the lunar landing alongside Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll); and his private sojourn to the Lunar East crater.

With this framework, the film remains tied almost exclusively to Armstrong's perspective, with the occasional shift to Janet. It sets itself the task of penetrating this most private of men, explaining why he was so driven, even to the detriment of his family. And herein lies perhaps the film's most egregious failing. It's as if director Damien Chazelle and screenwriter Josh Singer think the Apollo 11 mission isn't interesting enough by itself - there needs to be some kind of deeper "why" behind the whole enterprise.

In any case, the attempts to tease out the inner workings of Armstrong's mind don't really work, as he remains very much in his own world - no matter what Gosling, Chazelle, and Singer do to dress him up, Armstrong comes across as aloof and interiorised. Partly at fault here is Gosling's performance, with its fulcrum of emotionless stoic masculinity. Instead of giving the character hidden depth, the few discernible traits he possesses make him something of a cardboard cut-out, a 21st-century screenwriter's idea of what an American man who grew up in the 40s and 50s should be.

Another issue is that the filmmakers choose to locate Armstrong's primary motivation in the death of Karen, which is presented with a mawkish sentimentality, as Chazelle attempts to link Karen's death with Armstrong's determination - as she is dying, he holds her and looks wistfully into the sky, and on the moon's surface, he drops her bracelet into the Lunar East crater and cries a few tears. The problem lies in the overkill, detracting from whatever genuine emotion such details should evoke. Every time we see Gosling stare yearningly into the sky, the potency of the film is diluted just a little bit more.

Did he really drop the bracelet into the crater? We don't know. However, for me, the whole thing comes across as far too syrupy, an amateur psychological profiling of a man who was intensely private. I would have much preferred the Lunar East trip to remain a mystery - by showing us what they think might have happened, Hansen, Singer, and Chazelle cheapen the intensely personal nature of the moment, which Armstrong obviously chose to keep secret for a reason.

Make no mistake, however, the lunar landing itself is beyond spectacular, with Justin Hurwitz's incredible music and Linus Sandgren's superb cinematography coming into their own. The sequence was shot in 70mm IMAX, and it makes extraordinary use of the larger frame, with the first panorama of the lunar surface almost as awe-inspiring as anything in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) or The Tree of Life (2011). An especially well-directed part of the lunar descent is that rather than lay down a busy foley track, Chazelle pulls out the sound altogether, creating an eerie, otherworldly moment that literally gave me goosebumps.

However, despite the magisterial last 30 minutes, and some sporadically well-handled moments, First Man is underwhelming, and, for long portions, interminably dull. As good as that final sequence is, it's no compensation for the plodding and lifeless two hours that precede it.… Expand

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7

TyranianApr 8, 2019

Pretty good retelling of moon landing with some very good visuals though Armstrong is a snore.

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9

BrunoVn00Mar 30, 2019

An absolutely fantastic movie. Damien Chazelle, the director of La La Land, a musical, could make an excellent movie about the first landing on the moon, seems kind of odd and genuinely surprising.

The Good: -Amazing performances, speciallyAn absolutely fantastic movie. Damien Chazelle, the director of La La Land, a musical, could make an excellent movie about the first landing on the moon, seems kind of odd and genuinely surprising.

The Good:
-Amazing performances, specially from Claire Foy.
-Breathtaking space sequences, specially the opening scene.
-Speaking about the opening scene, it's one of the most impressive and intense opening scenes I've seen in a while, it really gives you an impression of what kind of movie you are watching.
-Some emotional and heartbreaking moments. It teaches you a lot about the struggles the NASA had before going to the moon.
-The pacing is good, it's not too slow to the point it becomes boring, nor it becomes too fast to the point you get lost on what's going on.
-The visual effects are amazing. Nothing in the movie looks fake.

The bad:
-Some camerawork. Most of the movie is all shaky. I know "shakycam" it's well used during the flight sequences but there are moments that don't need shakycam (like a normal conversation) where the movie uses it and it's kind of silly and distracting. Also many shots were out of focus.… Expand

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7

JoeCoolMar 10, 2019

Beautiful, well acted and made, but after the start it just gets a bit too slow to my liking. It makes a couple of worthwhile points and is definately worth seeing. Just don't expect too much, it's not as epic as you might hope.

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5

Brando217Mar 9, 2019

Neil Armstrong's story is one that needed to be told, and this film does a good job at telling it. However, as marketed as a space epic, the actual moon landing is the most underwhelming thing I've witnessed in a film like this. It's almostNeil Armstrong's story is one that needed to be told, and this film does a good job at telling it. However, as marketed as a space epic, the actual moon landing is the most underwhelming thing I've witnessed in a film like this. It's almost tragic how the last 10 minutes don't utilize the potential to show how inspiring and powerful the moon landing is and instead keep the same depressed tone that was prevalent through the ENTIRE FILM.… Expand

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7

AlthafaDhiaMar 5, 2019

First of all if u expect to get documentary-like about NASA get to the moon film well u wrong This film more explaining the life of neil amstrong , that's it nothing else.
if u expect a film/documentary film abaout how NASA get work to theFirst of all if u expect to get documentary-like about NASA get to the moon film well u wrong This film more explaining the life of neil amstrong , that's it nothing else.
if u expect a film/documentary film abaout how NASA get work to the moon Apollo 11 , Hidden Figures is the choice… Expand

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8

ahmedaiman1999Mar 4, 2019

Damien Chazelle has designed claustrophobic atmosphere to externally replicate the melancholy that surrounds our grief-stricken protagonist and his family. Moreover, the contrast between the omen of failure that permeates almost every sceneDamien Chazelle has designed claustrophobic atmosphere to externally replicate the melancholy that surrounds our grief-stricken protagonist and his family. Moreover, the contrast between the omen of failure that permeates almost every scene and Armstrong's commitment to achieve his goal added up something quite special to the movie.

Besides being devastated and heartbroken, we often see that Armstrong is incapable of communicating or expressing his feelings to his dearest ones. And there are few actors nowadays who can portray such an introvert character dealing with repressed emotions, depression and anxiety. Actually there might be no one who is up for this task, except for one guy; the inimitable awesome Canadian, Ryan Gosling, who is able to express any character's feelings with the slightest and simplest facial expressions. Claire Foy is almost equally brilliant. And it weren't for her and Gosling, it would be extremely difficult for me to feel any tension and sorrow at certain moments in the movie.

Speaking of which, the movie suffers a great deal on the dramatic level, despite all the feels Chazelle and the two leads have succeeded to convey. First and foremost, the documentary-like structure of the movie hindered the experience of watching it so badly. The movie contains of chapters that don't always even seem to be connected to each other. Sometimes the movie simply jumps from an event to another, and then tries to convince us that it's all related by showing how our protagonist is traumatized by a certain tragic incident. That leads us to my second issue, which is this very tragic incident. Despite the fact it plays a major part in the story and not only for the sake of emotional manipulation, this tragedy that the movie leans upon solely as a motivation for the protagonist, as well as an integral part of the dramatic aspect, is clichéd, unconvincing, surprisingly weak, and utilized quite poorly. It's a miracle that it worked very well at the end as well as everything else in the awe-inspiring, breathtaking, gorgeous-looking, extremely intense and immensely satisfying final act that followed a thrilling climax.

First Man is one of those biopics where you know what is about to happen, but can't help but get caught up in the rising suspense of its breathtaking scenes. The movie should have been nominated from the Academy in many other categories, including best Cinematography, and, of course, Best Actor and Actress in Leading Roles for Gosling and Foy, respectively. I would be lying if I said that I didn't find it a bit disappointing, but it's only so because I expected better, or rather to be permanently engaged throughout its running-time, from one of my all-time favorite filmmakers.

(8/10)… Expand

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4

WindolickerMar 4, 2019

This movie thinks it is edgy and cutting edge and ultimately it just tries too hard to evoke emotions. There are constantly long scenes where nothing is said and the audience gets to just stare at Gosling and other characters. I reallyThis movie thinks it is edgy and cutting edge and ultimately it just tries too hard to evoke emotions. There are constantly long scenes where nothing is said and the audience gets to just stare at Gosling and other characters. I really thought this film was a bore and I am super passionate about space and astronomy. It really is just a meditation on Neil Armstrong himself and frankly I don't think they even succeed on that front. As far as it being a biopic it really doesn't show Armstrong's character anyway. Zzzzzzzzz… Expand

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9

AndrewBurgeMar 2, 2019

Just what kind of man must you be not only to undergo the first ever Moon landing, but to do it with such a lack of fear despite having an insight into the amount of risks you undertake. Neil Armstrong, at least how he was portrayed by RyanJust what kind of man must you be not only to undergo the first ever Moon landing, but to do it with such a lack of fear despite having an insight into the amount of risks you undertake. Neil Armstrong, at least how he was portrayed by Ryan Gosling here, was such a man.

The first few scenes depict him flying a rocket plane when it inadvertently bounced off the atmosphere. He has a brush with death as he attempts to land it in the Mojave Desert. He succeeds, but for a man who has just been in the atmosphere a couple of minutes ago, then had a near-fatal crash, he was unmoved. Some people find this bland, but I find it fascinating. Not to mention the power of the scene was helped by Justin Hurwitz's ambitious score and Damien Chazelle's precise direction. The noises were brief, hard-hitting, the cogs could be heard breaking apart and the frames were mostly stationary feeling like an impact.

The film is also careful to make sure to keep you entertained even during the times when Neil is not in the cockpit. Of course, these moments are not as tense, they can't be, but Damien Chazelle crafts his opaque personality in a clever way. Early in the film, he loses Karen, his two-year-old daughter, to a brain tumor. This is the first of the many funeral scenes in the film. Throughout the film, he only mentions her once, to his colleague, Ed (Jason Clarke), but you can feel he is always thinking about her.

Somehow, Gosling's content portrayal carries this film. He remains apparently unmoved to the countless deaths of astronauts testing the Apollo Mission rocket, he always keeps a certain distance from his family. His wife, Janet (Claire Foy) is the one who from time to time breaks his wall and she is truly strong. But his pain does not come from fear to his job, as he loves it, but from loss. Always looking up at the Moon, maybe, just maybe, thinking that Karen is somewhere over there.

This might seem far-fetched, but his ambition is brought by pain. In the final scenes, when he steps on the Moon, he looks around as if he is not impressed, but disappointed. There is nothing and in the end, he drops Karen's bracelet on the ground and realizes this is it. This is all there is to it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

bataguilaFeb 28, 2019

Muy lenta, le dan peso a personaje de la esposa que no hace nada. Lo más interesante es los ultimos 10min, pero eso debió ser toda la peli. Aprendes un poco de historia.

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7

m15964Feb 28, 2019

It seems that this movie take few attention and ignored just because of the flag at the final sequence up in the moon. I think "First Man" needs to be more discussed because it needs to talk about Armstrong's real life and his character andIt seems that this movie take few attention and ignored just because of the flag at the final sequence up in the moon. I think "First Man" needs to be more discussed because it needs to talk about Armstrong's real life and his character and then discuss about the character's behavior and dialog and go deeper to his mind and thoughts.… Expand

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6

SrPepeFeb 23, 2019

Es una buena película con buenas escenas, pero nada más, esperaba mucho más y me decepcionó bastante.

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8

jgzegerFeb 16, 2019

There is no question that First Man is a high quality movie. First Man is probably the most realistic account of space travel ever made. It really captures the difficulty involved with the Apollo 11 mission, and makes you feel like you areThere is no question that First Man is a high quality movie. First Man is probably the most realistic account of space travel ever made. It really captures the difficulty involved with the Apollo 11 mission, and makes you feel like you are right there with the astronauts. Great direction by Damien Chazelle, fine performances by Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, and some of the best hand-held camera work I have ever seen. Highly recommended.… Expand

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10

s26205229Feb 15, 2019

This movie is amazing. I think the reason it’s been mischaracterized as “slow” and “boring” is because people were expecting a space action movie. Apparently, they didn’t read the title. Yes it’s very different than Apollo 13 or even TheThis movie is amazing. I think the reason it’s been mischaracterized as “slow” and “boring” is because people were expecting a space action movie. Apparently, they didn’t read the title. Yes it’s very different than Apollo 13 or even The Right Stuff, but it’s SUPPOSED to be. They didn’t want to give you the same things you get from those other movies. They wanted this movie to be unique, and it is. And they did an excellent job of it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

WaelFeb 9, 2019

A nice visual experience depicting the American tries to land on the moon in the 1960s, "First Man" stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, and has an mindblowing score. It's important to note the continuation of Damien Chazelle's themes ofA nice visual experience depicting the American tries to land on the moon in the 1960s, "First Man" stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, and has an mindblowing score. It's important to note the continuation of Damien Chazelle's themes of dreams and making sacrifices to get to your goal, which we previously saw in "La La Land" and "Whisplash".… Expand

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8

JackusBlackusOct 26, 2018

Don't go into this movie thinking it is "The Right Stuff". This is a very personal story of the space program from the perspectives of Neil Armstrong and his wife, Janet. While other accounts focus on the spectacle and heroics of the GeminiDon't go into this movie thinking it is "The Right Stuff". This is a very personal story of the space program from the perspectives of Neil Armstrong and his wife, Janet. While other accounts focus on the spectacle and heroics of the Gemini and Apollo programs, this one focuses on the people and their experiences. I think it gives new insight into what it must have been like to be an astronaut.

As a side note, the sound is incredible -- I expect it to win some awards.… Expand

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7

RaduAFeb 6, 2019

I saw First Man and in my opinion it's ok but that's all... I think next week I'll forget it. Frankly, I was expecting more, especially from Ryan Gosling.

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3

AndremaxFeb 4, 2019

First Man is so painfully boring that doesn't even open space for immersion, even with camera's cuts that in theory should passing sensation of suffocating lived by characters.

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9

JulianbrownJan 30, 2019

Hollywood’s go to young leading man Ryan Gosling (arguably usurped now by Bradley Cooper) playing first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, enters the 1960’s cocooned inside a rocket with wings, bouncing off of the edge of the earth’sHollywood’s go to young leading man Ryan Gosling (arguably usurped now by Bradley Cooper) playing first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, enters the 1960’s cocooned inside a rocket with wings, bouncing off of the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, almost achieving space flight before intending to. It’s a thrilling gut punch, full of the eerie silences, scraping metallic noises, whirring dials, serene beauty and absolute terror that inform much of the film’s sky high action. Quickly we are back to the suburban white-bread American home with his wife (played with wide-eyed edge by a stunning Claire Foy) and their young children, the youngest of whom is at the end of her short life.
First Man makes great use of these opposing environs, juxtaposing the near impossible danger of Armstrong’s day job, with resolutely normal home life – just with a little more relief greeting each, “Hi honey, I’m Home’. After Gosling’s Armstrong manages to score a spot on the nascent Gemini astronaut program, the wider cast of like-minded picket-fence adventurers assemble in a Houston via NASA recreation of suburbia. In particular he befriends fellow pilots, Elliot See (Patrick Fugit) and Ed White (the always excellent and increasingly prevalent Australian actor, Jason Clark).
If there are many praises I could sing about First Man, I’d start with it’s even handed, subtle dryness – my fears of a saccharine, noble, swelling, heroic guiding hand from Spielberg were completely unfounded, to the extent I wonder how much of his influence was flat out rejected. Chazelle doesn’t amplify faults or heroism to histrionic levels, neither does he engage in the kind of reductive moral absolutism and offensive simplification (bordering on propaganda) that blighted a film like American Sniper.
His cast are similarly allowed to breathe and exist without the awards-worthy grandstanding so common in “great” true life stories, Gosling’s low key internal performance (something a grand-stander like Cooper could learn from) won’t win him awards but is pitch-perfect for a modest, quiet man like Armstrong. The standout is undoubtedly British actress Claire Foy, as Armstrong’s wife Janet – she is magnetic without doing anything, her startled eyes conveying incredible building pressure, she owns every scene she is in and is almost the antithesis of the kind of American housewife we are used to in this terrain. Chazelle’s direction is mature, appropriate, sure-footed and intelligent throughout – rarely making himself centre-stage. Gone is the all-singing floral overkill of La La Land or the dynamic intensity of Whiplash, showing we are just coming to terms with his already formidable range (I could not tell you what I expect him to offer next). He handles the scary intensity of action, the mundanity of home life and the transitions between both with equal consistency. This already excellent and fascinating drama is elevated further by some stellar production values.
The sound is across the board magnificent – regular stalwart Justin Hurwitz’s score is one of the best in years, a sometimes exciting, sometimes haunting amalgam of period appropriate vintage electronica that heightens or enhances anything it touches. The broader spectrum of sound effects is equally compelling, particularly the clanking, creaking terror of the giant, possibly malevolent, shiny space beasts. The cinematography by is notably realistic – often the tranquil beauty of space collapsing into a vortex of impending, furious calamity.
First Man is a near magnificent biopic but more than that, it effortlessly sidesteps all the pitfalls of the overly heroic, simplistic, swelling, borderline jingoistic film I’d feared and for that Chazelle deserves all the praise. Much was ludicrously made of the failure to include Armstrong planting the US flag on the moon – in these polarized times, one single solitary moment can have an entire section of society write something off as the enemy.
The two true apexes of this story are not the flag planting anyway but that first step on truly foreign soil, by any living creature we know, and that creature’s return to his wife’s gaze – both handled beautifully and without embellishment. Spielberg may have been there to guide the young punk through the difficult terrain of a story as important to the American psyche as the moon landing, but after watching something like Spielberg’s clunky same-period The Post, First Man makes Chazelle look be the veteran.

8.5/10

Julian Brown – The Brown Note… Expand

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2

koconnorJan 29, 2019

You have to question the legitimacy of ratings. You have to be suspicious of any good rating. This was a horrible movie. Enough with the shaking hand held camera. Enough of the melodrama. I could hardly stay awake through this movie. MyYou have to question the legitimacy of ratings. You have to be suspicious of any good rating. This was a horrible movie. Enough with the shaking hand held camera. Enough of the melodrama. I could hardly stay awake through this movie. My biggest regret is I'll never get those 2 hours back. How do you make one of the most exciting events in our history so painfully boring?… Expand

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4

s053714Jan 29, 2019

This movie is really slow. The special effects are cheap and even the musical score is often inappropriate and sometimes annoying. The editing is also mystifying, with sequences of high drama suddenly cut to children playing. They gaveThis movie is really slow. The special effects are cheap and even the musical score is often inappropriate and sometimes annoying. The editing is also mystifying, with sequences of high drama suddenly cut to children playing. They gave this movie to the wrong director. I'd love to see what Ron Howard or Clint Eastwood could have done with this story. This was a huge disappointment for me.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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7

GinaKJan 28, 2019

A dour and surprisingly dull-spirited account of what I remember as an exciting time in America. I also remember that astronauts smiled back then, and still do today. I also remember America’s enthusiasm for the astronauts. By focusing soA dour and surprisingly dull-spirited account of what I remember as an exciting time in America. I also remember that astronauts smiled back then, and still do today. I also remember America’s enthusiasm for the astronauts. By focusing so much on the death of Armstrong’s daughter, Armstrong becomes a hollow man rather than a heroic one. My relatively high score for this film is for the hardware and convincing special effects and not for the depth and humanity that the director seems to deliberately omit from the astronauts’ lives.… Expand

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5

qJan 25, 2019

"First Man" starts out well enough, but it gradually becomes cumbersome and somewhat boring. The epic length, the dialogue I had to keep rewinding and replaying at higher volumes through my stereo speakers so I could understand it, the"First Man" starts out well enough, but it gradually becomes cumbersome and somewhat boring. The epic length, the dialogue I had to keep rewinding and replaying at higher volumes through my stereo speakers so I could understand it, the overemphasis on melodrama involving the wife and kids, and the studied downplaying and internationalizing of what was a uniquely American triumph leaves the viewer with a feeling best summed up in one word: "meh." I am sure there is all manner of high-end filmmaking craft that effete artsy-fartsy critics might appreciate, but the movie fails in its most basic mission: to engage and entertain the viewer.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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0

SIPPIOJan 24, 2019

This movie is TERRIBLE...
old person~ "it happened, I heard it on the radio "
jokes aside~ Neil & Buzz aren't good people.. ESP BUZZ... Something bothered me when he wouldn't swear on the bible that he went to the moon & attacked theThis movie is TERRIBLE...
old person~ "it happened, I heard it on the radio "
jokes aside~ Neil & Buzz aren't good people..
ESP BUZZ... Something bothered me when he wouldn't swear on the bible that he went to the moon
& attacked the person..
**I don't watch those conspiracy videos but the popular ones find a way to creep in..
As far as the movie for movies sake= MEH,boring, and I couldn't finish it...… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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10

DouglasreynholmJan 24, 2019

This isn't just a normal biopic about the famous Apollo 11 mission and the first man on the moon. This is a movie about how a person deals with tragedy with the events of the horrifying events of how dangerous the mission was. AmazingThis isn't just a normal biopic about the famous Apollo 11 mission and the first man on the moon. This is a movie about how a person deals with tragedy with the events of the horrifying events of how dangerous the mission was. Amazing performances from everyone. As well have a fantastic score that stays with you forever. Damien Chazelle shows that he isn't just a jazz fan.… Expand

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10

ClariseSamuelsJan 20, 2019

Space exploration movies, especially those based on a true story, are always riveting. First Man is no exception. Unlike the film Apollo 13, which explored the friendship and solidarity between Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise, thisSpace exploration movies, especially those based on a true story, are always riveting. First Man is no exception. Unlike the film Apollo 13, which explored the friendship and solidarity between Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise, this film focuses on the professional and emotional journey of one astronaut, Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling), who holds a place in history for being the first human being to set foot on the fine powder that pervades the surface of the moon.

Clearly, there was teamwork involved in this endeavor as well. Armstong did not fly to the moon by himself—he was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Nevertheless, even though his crewmates were with him the whole time, and the interdependency between them was obvious, Armstrong’s fierce inner strength, and his laconic and terse inability to express his deepest emotions both at home and at work, depict him as an iconic loner. It was not just one small step for [a] man and one giant leap for mankind, it was a giant leap for astronaut Neil Armstrong as an individual and a man whose personal journey had literally taken him to the moon.

Director Damien Chazelle beautifully balances the professional man with the private individual, who was difficult to live with as a spouse, who loved his children but could not always demonstrate paternal affection, and who respected his copilots even as he distanced himself from them. Generally unknown or forgotten details about Neil Armstrong come to light in this screenplay, such as the fact that he lost a 2-year-old daughter to brain cancer in 1962. Given his impassive and stoic personality, he was never completely able to assimilate his grief. He is shown dropping his daughter’s bracelet in a moon crater during his 22-hour Apollo 11 lunar exploration. Although this scene is not wholly based on fact, Armstrong did wander away from Aldrin briefly to spend a few minutes by himself at the edge of what is known as Little West Crater. This went against the scripted actions that had been carefully planned before the launch. It was thought he might have left something there as a memento, not uncommon practice for astronauts who walked on the moon. Armstrong’s biographer suspected he left something from his daughter, as did others. Also, not generally known was that Armstrong was probably not NASA’s first choice to be first man. He was shoved to the head of the line with the death of Gus Grissom, who perished in a flash fire during a “plugs-out” test. Grissom was purported to be lined up for commanding the first lunar landing mission.

As a strong-willed, hard-working Midwesterner from Ohio, Armstrong was not the easiest character to depict on screen. He was not glamorous or flamboyant, his life was scandal-free, and he avoided the limelight. Ryan Gosling attempts to recreate this inner and dispassionate strength, which was a kind of discrete reserve worn like a protective armor. The portrayal is accurate, but for those who have never experienced the quiet, unflappable self-restraint of a certain kind of Midwestern personality, it may have appeared that Gosling was underacting. He wasn’t. As for Claire Foy in the role of Armstrong’s wife Janet, she has demonstrated what appears to be an infinite acting range. She has effortlessly glided from a flawless portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II to an equally flawless portrayal of a Midwestern (from Illinois) suburban housewife who has to stay home to mind the kids, bravely live her life in the dark shadow of possible widowhood, and give her difficult astronaut husband a ton of support. Also noteworthy, the moon landing scenes and the eerie silence of space as the astronauts approach the lunar surface make this film an almost mystical experience.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

DubeauJan 19, 2019

What I loved the most in First man are the trials before the actual launch. Yet we only have to see a bit of them. The story slow down a lot when it comes to the personal life and makes the film sluggish. I really like the death aspect of theWhat I loved the most in First man are the trials before the actual launch. Yet we only have to see a bit of them. The story slow down a lot when it comes to the personal life and makes the film sluggish. I really like the death aspect of the movie. It make the experience emotional. The acting was very good all the way around. The music is on point in tense moments. I give it 72%. This is not to the level of Apollo 13 or Gravity but still interesting to watch.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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9

rwbronsonJan 17, 2019

One Giant Leap...

First Man Sound Score(20/20) Great use of high volume to make you feel you're there in the capsule, hearing every little creak of the walls and the roar of the engines. Apollo 1 Score(30/30) Knowing it's coming makes theOne Giant Leap...

First Man

Sound Score(20/20) Great use of high volume to make you feel you're there in the capsule, hearing every little creak of the walls and the roar of the engines.
Apollo 1 Score(30/30) Knowing it's coming makes the dread even worse. The "popping" of the hatch brought me to tears. When Neil tells Gilruth it's a little late to be questioning the human cost of the program you realize how much was risked by so many.
Astronauts Wive's Score(20/20) "You're just little boys making models of balsa wood!" "No, Henry! Those people don't put one piece of equipment on my lawn. If they have a problem with that, they can take it up with my husband. He'll be HOME... on FRIDAY!"
The wives get all the best lines don't they? And they die a little every hour until their men return safe, it they ever do.
Angel of Death Score(10/10) It's a miracle Neil lived long enough to be the first man on the moon. What an incredible effort by so many to make this happen.
"Moody" Neil Score(6/10) These seemed to come out of nowhere. The script needed better transitions to these scenes.
Lunar Descent Score(6/10) A fascinating visual experience but I wanted a better idea of the trajectory of their descent with more exterior shots. The sequence starts off that way but then shifts inside the capsule and stays there.

92/100… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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0

xsu-ecJan 17, 2019

Worst movie I've ever seen... At least last 5 years... ZERO effects, ZERO operator work. Each of us can make half time of that movie same quality screen motion with iPhone & Table & dark Pocket & piece of cloth & some well formed chalk orWorst movie I've ever seen... At least last 5 years... ZERO effects, ZERO operator work. Each of us can make half time of that movie same quality screen motion with iPhone & Table & dark Pocket & piece of cloth & some well formed chalk or salt or piece of soap
remember this tweet...
To compare, and feel the difference try to watch i.e. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Pioneers or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyut_7_(film) (both of them deserve to be seen)… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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7

zrhumphreyJan 15, 2019

Great direction and some enthralling space scenes are the best parts of this surprisingly distant and hollow film.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

AxeTJan 13, 2019

Earnest visceral and intimate treatment of most important of historical events widely covered in all manner and lodged in the cultural consciousness for 50 years, this does add a stylistically contemporary cinematic updating that puts youEarnest visceral and intimate treatment of most important of historical events widely covered in all manner and lodged in the cultural consciousness for 50 years, this does add a stylistically contemporary cinematic updating that puts you there perhaps more than ever before. It's also needlessly prolonged in its annoyingly too tight handheld photography which should have been more measured for effect! Surprisingly it drags even more than epics typically do considering its new look into the real hero's personal life.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

Qgal5kapDec 27, 2018

Quite disappointed with this movie. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't totally suck, as there are many elements of it I enjoyed. BUT, in terms of story telling, it was dull and uninspiring. Hollywood has lost the ability to tell a story it seems.Quite disappointed with this movie. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't totally suck, as there are many elements of it I enjoyed. BUT, in terms of story telling, it was dull and uninspiring. Hollywood has lost the ability to tell a story it seems. This movie was 2.2hrs long, and I feel like I got 30 minutes of actual storytelling.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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3

TrevorsViewDec 27, 2018

Plenty of justifications have been addressed why Americans think they live in the world’s greatest country, perhaps one of the most common being because they landed on old Luna before Russia. But unlike that giant leap mankind took, DamienPlenty of justifications have been addressed why Americans think they live in the world’s greatest country, perhaps one of the most common being because they landed on old Luna before Russia. But unlike that giant leap mankind took, Damien Chazelle’s attempt to recreate it in First Man takes three massive steps down after his last two projects set him on a hot streak. History’s youngest Best Director Oscar winner managed to accomplish the impossible: turning an important figure into a passive plot device with Bella Swan level personality.

The technical elements instead steal the focus, diminishing Neil Armstrong with unnecessary focused shots on a fly and a control panel’s Chinese takeout food that add no story significance. This emotional distance may be for the best though, as the story built around Neil features plenty unrealistic additions, most groanworthy being what he does with his dead daughter’s bracelet. Even Interstellar might mock its ridiculousness! Riding off that other 2001: A Space Odyssey wannabee, important details are disregarded, including international contribution to NASA, allowing key milestones to merely happen to each character, particularly Neil’s wife, Janet, who’s worse written than any pre-Force Awakens Star Wars female. At least those ugly Star Wars prequels had actual image contrast, unlike the bad color grading of this movie, which gives an ugly texture put together by someone who let success override his head. However, taking the pre-production design process into account, a nice attention on using cool vs. warm colors juxtaposes Janet’s baby blue dress against the Apollo 11’s bright jet flames. Mary Zophres’ costumes (La La Land, True Grit) are surprisingly detailed as they take on an impression of wanting to be like moonbeams: a pure, straight path, but not quite able to get there... they look more often like the chaos of a nuclear explosion. Yes, every crisp design choice matches an era of new beginnings, unlike Neil’s turmoil of losing his daughter to brain cancer. Especially after the dark, scary opening scene when Neil first hits Earth’s thermosphere, enough justification guarantees chills with every view beyond the clouds.

Many say this feature must only be seen in IMAX, and honestly, it’s true. From the Gemini 5’s radio that rattles your ears to the documentary-esque camera cropped closer than usual, Neil’s nauseous claustrophobia becomes instantly comprehensible. Then after the sounds of the ship boom out of control, complete space silence takes Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 classic to heart. It forces prolonged depth into infinity’s empty black void beyond Earth’s blue aura; then this Kubrickian style turns simultaneously epic on the ground with a heavy landing on the Mojave Desert, an intro that would make Steven Spielberg proud. Also, when they reach the moon’s surface, despite the controversy, a US flag does show up! It’s just not seen being planted in! Thus, you can stop getting mad about it.

You can get mad instead at the way Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson, La La Land) plays Neil Armstrong without any believability. Ryan acts the same as he did in Blade Runner 2049, just staring with eyes half-open as if confused about how to play the role properly, worse than Amy Adams’ grossly mediocre Arrival performance. One might very well call Neil a replicant in this case as he barely even reacts to a training simulator. His nonexistent effort turns extra noticeable though on the earth’s soil, as him listening to “Lunar Rhapsody” with Janet feels unromantic. Both Ryan and Claire Foy probably felt very confused about how to portray their respective roles because of the perplexing scene arrangements which beg you to question, “why does any of this matter?” For instance, most of their impersonal conversations are filmed from behind as if this was a low-budget romantic period piece/failed Oscar bait.

It’s unbelievable how Josh Singer, who won an Oscar for the tremendous Spotlight, now turns out one of 2018’s worst screenplays, blocking all the genuine difficulties felt that tell us new, personal facts about Neil Armstrong and his family. Everybody becomes a plot device pushing events forward, technology often left to work instead to hand out exposition. One is an old informational video that replaces conflict to give out crucial information, which honestly just looks lazy. Besides, we already know they will succeed, so why would any of this matter?

Although the core problem with First Man is a lot deeper than just a lousy script, it’s worse even than historical accuracy—the most common issue with biopics (this one is relatively true to what really happened). The core problem is that this film uses a man’s life as an excuse to create cinematic spectacle. How would you like it if somebody took a milestone of your life, removed all fears leading up to that milestone, and replaced it with empty, pretty pictures?… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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8

LivingTribunalDec 26, 2018

The ost makes everything possible. It's another magic that space can create. When he finally landed on moon, it was so emotional that it made so many people cry including me. This film is feels like a 1 hour long waltz.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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3

VonSeuxDec 26, 2018

Very Boring, dark, and lacking emoton on almost every scene... the movie russian The Spacewalk is made arround similar events and is much much more engaging

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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9

MILKshake_VMDec 17, 2018

Beautiful poem about the achievements of man, and how Neil who is nothing more than one, didn't want the fame but to show all mankind what we can do. No other space movie makes you feel closer to science fiction than this, as the first stepBeautiful poem about the achievements of man, and how Neil who is nothing more than one, didn't want the fame but to show all mankind what we can do. No other space movie makes you feel closer to science fiction than this, as the first step to achieving a science fiction reality was landing on the moon. The loneliness of space, its vastness, Damian Chazelle captures the essence of one of mans greatest achievements in spirit and the prices all had to pay. While showing us the reward and to then question was it worth it. The re occurring imagery of space too was a nice attention to detail. With kids running around tree mimicking perhaps Apollo 13 around the moon? Or when two lovers dance between two lamps. One lit on unlit, like earth suspended between the star and the rock. A re-occurring theme also tends be darkness. The world seems to always be getting darker but i'm sure it stays the same throughout. Whether intentional or not i cant help but feel its to show that Neil is sacrificing so much just to land in darkness. It also portrays the damaged side of Neil and how his struggle with showing emotion. His stoic kindness is portrayed as rather private from even his wife and its a great contrast in scene of the moon landing. Showing his greatest achievement. Anyway i'm rambling and not making sense but this is a cool af movie. Highly reccomnded. Is however slow. If you cant appreciate good film and hate "slow" movies. Dont watch this. Keep watching brooklyn 99 where you can keep all 8 of your IQ points entertained.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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9

CosiMOLOGODec 16, 2018

Uno de los director contemporáneos más importante es Damien Chazelle. Con 4 películas, el joven realizador estadounidense fue poniendo una huella en el terreno del cine. Tomando notoriedad el 204 con Whiplash, en donde mostró su amor por laUno de los director contemporáneos más importante es Damien Chazelle. Con 4 películas, el joven realizador estadounidense fue poniendo una huella en el terreno del cine. Tomando notoriedad el 204 con Whiplash, en donde mostró su amor por la música. Luego siguió La la land, un musical que rinde homenaje al género y confirmaba. Ahora cambia completamente el tono de sus 3 películas anteriores y trae esta, que además de recordar el alunizaje es un retrato existencial de la vida de Neil Amstrong.

La verdadera fuerza de esta película no se encuentra en mostrar escenas emocionantes de efectos visuales, lo que sorprende es la belleza desgarradora que guardan las escenas cotidianas de la vida de Neil. Primeros planos muestran el talento Ryan Gosling, personaje contemplativo y silencioso, recordando mucho a su interpretación de K en Blade Runner 2049 el año pasado (cinta en la que su personaje comparte rasgos similares con Neil). Nuestro anti-héroe se resigna luego del fatídico suceso que afronta, para poder emprender una misión que pone en riesgo su vida, y su estabilidad familiar. Pero a la vez siendo un medio de superación y de duelo.

La que podría haber sido una cinta propagandística y de exaltación estadounidense Chazelle lo convierte en un relato profundo y serio. La capacidad actoral de Gosling y Foy y el montaje detallista y preciso dejan escenas de fuerte carga emocional. Chazelle ha traído su mejor película luego de Whiplash un relato elíptico e hipnotizante desde el primer momento. Justin Hurwitz, compañero inseparable de Chazelle no se queda sin merito, ahora logra aumentar las dosis de tensión y crear climas en las película, sin llegar a convertirla en efectista.

Una pena que haya sido prácticamente ignorada en las nominaciones a los Globos de Oro, y dando preferencia a cintas que claramente no se merecían estar allí. Pero no necesita ningún premio para dejar de ser estupenda.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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9

marcmyworksDec 16, 2018

First man is probably one of the best movies of 2018, exploring the psychological battle Neil Armstrong went through during the Apollo space program in the 1960s. Though at times the film seems long and the shaky camera work jarring, it is anFirst man is probably one of the best movies of 2018, exploring the psychological battle Neil Armstrong went through during the Apollo space program in the 1960s. Though at times the film seems long and the shaky camera work jarring, it is an excellent film.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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3

shoulderoforionDec 14, 2018

Nope, this movie was a complete miss. Having been spoiled by The Right Stuff way back in 1983 (!!!) having shown this story in what is turning out to be the best possible way with the best possible cast, First Man was too dark, too moody,Nope, this movie was a complete miss. Having been spoiled by The Right Stuff way back in 1983 (!!!) having shown this story in what is turning out to be the best possible way with the best possible cast, First Man was too dark, too moody, looks like it was filmed with a potato inside a potato, melancholy mess of a picture wasn't worth the 2+ hours spend watching it. This director was trying for something and he didn't hit this barn with the elephant (potato) gun. uggh, this was bad in every way.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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4

LegendaryLassDec 14, 2018

If you like quiet, dialogue-less reflections (and you can stay awake through them), Chazelle may have a film for you. Claire Foy delivers the sleeper performance of the film, but the bulk of the time we spend watching Gosling silently lookIf you like quiet, dialogue-less reflections (and you can stay awake through them), Chazelle may have a film for you. Claire Foy delivers the sleeper performance of the film, but the bulk of the time we spend watching Gosling silently look at things and not much else. Who said no one could make rocket ships blasting off to the moon uninteresting?… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

NorthlinDec 7, 2018

Incredibly emotional and well made film. Left me weeping in tears and until now, still a heartache for Neil. Ryan Gosling plays better than ever, and the moon landing sequence is just too goddamn satisfying to watch. Huge love to it, probablyIncredibly emotional and well made film. Left me weeping in tears and until now, still a heartache for Neil. Ryan Gosling plays better than ever, and the moon landing sequence is just too goddamn satisfying to watch. Huge love to it, probably one of the best films of the year.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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8

FeudDec 5, 2018

Very beautiful and unique way of telling this story. Eventhough it is pretty slow at times, it was always well acted and well shot. Ryan Gosling is perfect for a role like this where he can play someone who is very reserved.
The moon sequenceVery beautiful and unique way of telling this story. Eventhough it is pretty slow at times, it was always well acted and well shot. Ryan Gosling is perfect for a role like this where he can play someone who is very reserved.
The moon sequence was amazing and every scene in an aircraft was nerve wracking.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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7

PanchogulNov 28, 2018

Visualmente atractiva y buena historia, pero terriblemente lenta y la actuación del protagonista es apática a mas no poder, al tipo durante toda la película parece importarle un carajo el mundo entero y pareciera estar trabajando de mala ganaVisualmente atractiva y buena historia, pero terriblemente lenta y la actuación del protagonista es apática a mas no poder, al tipo durante toda la película parece importarle un carajo el mundo entero y pareciera estar trabajando de mala gana con Foy ya que parecen cualquier cosa menos un matrimonio.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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6

garmonboziaNov 27, 2018

This is again a movie which is clearly over-hyped. I agree that the performances are good (especially Claire Foy). Neil Armstrong wasn't too charismatic so I understand why Gosling chose to play him with this stoic attitude and empty stares.This is again a movie which is clearly over-hyped. I agree that the performances are good (especially Claire Foy). Neil Armstrong wasn't too charismatic so I understand why Gosling chose to play him with this stoic attitude and empty stares. He also showed very real emotions in a couple of more dramatic scenes. But in the end this character wasn't really that interesting. I agree that trials of getting to the moon are shown in a thrilling manner. I disagree that the landing on the Moon in this movie was particularly spectacular. It was OK, but kinda meh. The surface of the Moon is cratered, grey and dusty - that's it. The real fuss was about the emotional journey. In this movie the screenwriter and director decided to tell the story from the point of a family drama. This is the strongest aspect of the movie. Armstrong is portrayed as someone who didn't manage to cure his daughter, so he is determined to go to the moon despite all the odds. We saw him searching for the treatment for her. In his opinion he probably failed her. So it is a promise he made (to himself / to her?) that he will never fail again. I know that people make a lot of strange stuff "for their loved ones" and a lot of times those things are like an ego driven wishes, dressed up as a tribute to lost ones. I'm OK with it. But it was almost the only thing that kept this movie arc together. The movie tries to base it's emotional payoff on a very oscar-baity scene, that nobody can confirm ever happened in real life. So is it a lie?, probability?, assumption ??? Not a good way to end the journey. It's not a bad movie. It's a bit slow and blurs the lines between real events and pure fantasy. The ending was just to emotionally manipulative for me and clearly an oscar-bait.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

dennis_gtNov 26, 2018

I would have liked a little more space & action. I don't know if the director didn't have the budget, didn't have the skill, or just didn't want to undermine the character portrait. But most of the intense scenes are just shots of GoslingI would have liked a little more space & action. I don't know if the director didn't have the budget, didn't have the skill, or just didn't want to undermine the character portrait. But most of the intense scenes are just shots of Gosling sitting in a plane or space craft and looking stressed. I feel like there was room for a little more bombast. But maybe I'm wrong.

Still, this movie was really good and very well-written. I'm not in love with any of the performances or the direction, but they're also good. The director made a choice and stuck with it. But the film itself is a very affecting portrait of a man that most of us know very little about who did extraordinary things while risking his life for reasons that are a little unclear, considering he had a family who probably cared about his safety.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

muldjordNov 23, 2018

Get ready for long strides of Ryan Gosling staring stone-faced around rooms and space capsules. I get it, Neil was never a talkative guy, so the portrayal, while snooze-inducing, is probably on point. Sadly, it makes for some really slow,Get ready for long strides of Ryan Gosling staring stone-faced around rooms and space capsules. I get it, Neil was never a talkative guy, so the portrayal, while snooze-inducing, is probably on point. Sadly, it makes for some really slow, devoid of dialog and almost lifeless passages. And those are the scenes on Earth! Neil's demeanor pretty much kills all of the drama as it happens. Completely devoid of emotion. Might be accurate, but it makes for some damn boring scenes.
The scenes in space are pretty much a mix of fast cutting between zoomed in buttons and displays, a lot of shaking and the occasional view from outside the capsules. The technical details of pretty much everything is cut down to the bare minimum. Most of the time you have no idea what is going on. And the worst part is that even the moon landing itself seems so devoid of excitement that I just didn't care about it. I just wanted the movie to end!
Normally, when I watch movies or documentaries on this stuff, I am almost in tears when they reach the points of great significance. Not the case for this one! I just sat there. No interest in the scene. Nothing but boredom.

Bottom line: This movie is 90 minutes of Neil Armstrong getting in and out of capsules mixed with some incredibly slow-moving family moments on Earth being interrupted by calls about colleague accidents. Then he goes to the Moon, quickly skips to being back on Earth and the movie ends.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

SuperKevNov 20, 2018

First Man went to great lengths to highlight in lengthy detail every major failure of the space program up to Apollo 11 with no balance to it. This movie spent zero time on any of the successes until the end with the successful landing on theFirst Man went to great lengths to highlight in lengthy detail every major failure of the space program up to Apollo 11 with no balance to it. This movie spent zero time on any of the successes until the end with the successful landing on the moon. The movie itself is well made, well acted and the special effects were fine. This is this movie depicted an complete rotten life for Neil Armstrong that seemingly turns him into this nearly emotionless stoic. They should have mixed in a little bit more of the Right Stuff and show at least something of the many successes leading up to Apollo 11. The movie was highly riveting in a misleading way most of the time. The actual landing sequence was decent and I thought it was the best part in the movie. But seriously you get 2hrs of tragedy, 20 minutes of spaceflight and really nothing positive about the program. They literally spend more time discussing Russia's successes at the time than anything NASA did. It is a very adept attempt at revisionist history.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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9

alejandro970Nov 18, 2018

Narrated with the epoc charactheristics, follows in compelling way how was the daring space travel that could hardly be. Gosling is remarkable as Armstrong; the sequences are realistic, makes the idea you are in the spaceship. A shall to see.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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7

JLuis_001Nov 15, 2018

Damien Chazelle's most recent film left me with many mixed feelings especially because the film had made me believe that it would be a spectacular epic, but First Man is not one.

Chazelle has everything, the protagonist, a strong and solidDamien Chazelle's most recent film left me with many mixed feelings especially because the film had made me believe that it would be a spectacular epic, but First Man is not one.

Chazelle has everything, the protagonist, a strong and solid supporting cast. An impressive story and better yet; is a real one.
His growth as a filmmaker is incredibly evident, regardless of his achievements with La La Land. Ironically First Man is his best film as a director but not his best film as a whole.

And why do I say this? Because everything feels in its place and yet First Man is a film incapable of provoking emotion. Although we are shown the whole journey of Neil Armstrong in NASA until he reaches the moon and evidently the narrative is built for that climax moment in the story but honestly the film never manages to provide a memorable cataclysmic moment and feels cold and sterile, which evidently ends the journey with its simple ending.

I'm not disappointed but I'm not impressed either. It's a film that deserves your full attention but its excellent quality didn't leave me satisfied.

And before I forget it, go get the musical score because Justin Hurwitz did an amazing job.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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0

ApollusNov 11, 2018

First Man was super boring and honestly a huge dishonor to history.
The writers and actors def thought they were making a deep movie. It was like purposely boring.

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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8

MattBrady99Nov 9, 2018

“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”.

‘First Man’ is a lift off folks. A beautiful, yet melancholic look on a man’s journey to the moon. Focusing on grief“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”.

‘First Man’ is a lift off folks. A beautiful, yet melancholic look on a man’s journey to the moon. Focusing on grief and loss that can poison anyone's thoughts. At the end, you get the sad realization it was a suicide mission, not a heroic one. Making you think twice of wanting to be an astronaut.

Also, the stupid controversy surrounding the American flag is one of the most pointless up cries ever. Anywhere...

Ryan Gosling is great as Neil Armstrong. Now some people have criticized his performance as being “dull” or “stilted”. While not the most exciting or colorful performance of the year, but the same can be said about Armstrong as a person. Gosling performance as a calculated man who is somewhat cold to his family over a personal tragedy - it is more depressing when reflecting back. It makes it more powerful. I got more out of it than some people.

Claire Foy is also great - the relationship between her and Gosling is very believable. You really do feel her concerns, but frustration which was brilliantly represented, especially during the emotional scenes. However, I wish they wrote something better for Foy than play “the wife” at home.

Damien Chazelle, my main man. Back once again to blow my socks off. A complete departure compared to his previous films ‘Whiplash’ and ‘La La Land’, in terms of film making and themes. Visually striking with a 60’s-like archive look which fits the time period. The way Chazelles films space shuttles leaving earth’s atmosphere is terrifying, because it’s all from Neil’s point of view. One minute it’s blue sky, then pitch black. I think any movie that can me feel motion sickness is an achievement in my books. Plus the cinematography being shot on Techniscope cameras gives an organic and raw look. The close ups and tight spaces - it’s a claustrophobic nightmare.

The moon landing sequence is absolutely breathing and some of the best film making in the entire movie. It also contains one of the saddest scenes I've seen in awhile, which got my eyes leaking. I swear, if that didn’t happen and was made up for the movie, then I won’t be happy. Still, makes me wonder if Chazelle and Kubrick faked the moon landing together.

The sound design is incredible and adds to the fear of space travel. Whenever they leave earth’s orbit during the testing scenes with the shuttle rattling and the sound of mental weakening - you literally keep expecting the shuttle to fall into pieces at any moment. Along with thundering engines from the rockets; it increase the tension of each test.

For issues: The movie is too long with the run time hurting the flow. I wasn’t bored or anything, just some scenes felt slow and worn out. Judging from the trailers, I guess there’s a longer cut, because of the scenes that are not in the movie.

The score could’ve been more memorable, in my opinion. I honestly don’t remember it, which is a shame as space films usually have great scores. Again, not bad, just decent.

Overall rating: Not the best Chazelle movie compared to his other work, but still a compelling character study on burying grief, while lost in the stars. Drifting away into that good night. Karen Armstrong, the star child.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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8

LajaleaaNov 9, 2018

"I'm down."

( 80/100 ) De uno de los directores más prometedores del cine de Hollywood actual; una de las personalidades más enfocadas, apasionadas y dinámicas que han surgido en la historia del séptimo arte y de la mente de una de las"I'm down."

( 80/100 )

De uno de los directores más prometedores del cine de Hollywood actual; una de las personalidades más enfocadas, apasionadas y dinámicas que han surgido en la historia del séptimo arte y de la mente de una de las visiones más audaces y amplias que han ganado fama. Damien Chazelle nos presenta el cuarto film de su carrera artística y profesional después de las inmediatamente aclamadas Whiplash y La La Land quienes le dieron presencia al director no solo en los Academy Awards sino en el corazón de los músicos empedernidos y la juventud inspirada.
Chazelle, es muy joven y no es muy difícil caer en el hecho de que su cine irradia esa energía. La juventud actual puede encariñarse fácilmente, no solo con las narrativas que procrea Chazelle, sino con su técnica también, pues ha mostrado ser un chico inteligente que sabe y se responsabiliza por la estética, el estilo y el desarrollo de sus audiovisuales. Lo hemos visto en la intensidad de Whiplash y en la sensibilidad de La La Land y éste año ha decidido mostrarnos su lado más personal e intimo. First Man es una historia escrita por Josh Singer basada en el libro de James R. Hansen llamado "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" publicado en el 2005. First Man es el lado más adulto y maduro de Chazelle y en su intento de expresar eso atinó y falló en varios aspectos. El libro en el que está basada ésta #película es una biografía y no estoy seguro de como surgió el material correcto para crear una narrativa novelista, pero si algo es evidente es que gracias a los diálogos y testimonios que se presentan en el libro se construyeron a los personajes y las situaciones. Recuerdo que cuando salí de la sala escuché varios comentarios sobre lo "aburrida" o "lenta" que fue, pero yo no la denominaría de esa forma, en lo que sí estoy de acuerdo es que una experiencia pesada. La película retrata únicamente la vida personal, el semblante y el perfil de Neil Armstrong, no toma en cuenta las influencias y el contexto que lo formó y convirtió en la persona rígida, seca y vacía que se muestra y, por lo tanto, en toda ella, el público carga con una historia sobre un hombre pesado de tratar y enormemente sensible. Las reacciones que Ryan Gosling le da a su personaje son las correctas y son coherentes con la narrativa y con el contexto real, sin embargo el problema está en el desapego que le tiene a su propia vida y, por lo tanto, el público no logra empatizar totalmente con Armstrong. Por otro lado tenemos a Claire Foy, quien es la alternativa a Armstrong y quien debería ser el lado humano, apegado a la vida y preocupado por la personalidad central en su vida y en la narrativa. Foy interpreta su papel con puntualidad y hay momentos en los que ambos logran una intensidad correcta en la pantalla, pero fuera de ese par de escenas no se le da a Foy el enfoque suficiente para qué el público sea partidario de su postura.
Por lo tanto, técnicamente Chazelle opta por enfocarse en la vida y vista de Armstrong de la forma más literal en la que se le ocurrió: con Close Ups. El 80% de la película está filmada con Close Ups y eso apoya la pesades en la narrativa visual. Ya estemos en una habitación, en un campo abierto o dentro de la nave, Chazelle nos encierra en el rostro de Gosling para que no nos perdamos ni un solo momento de sus reacciones ante cualquier situación. El otro 20% de la práctica técnica se hace con Establishing Shots y una mínima cantidad de Medium Shots o Shots cuya composición implique más de un plano visual. No hay momentos en los que haya una liberación o descanso visual y por lo tanto la película nos satura con detalles y expresiones. Sin embargo no puedo decir que no hay una buena composición en esos detalles, en la imagen o en cualquier toma. La fotografía siempre está bien cuidada y la técnica de la cámara también se permite lucir recalcando el estilo y firma del director. Aunque no es espectacular, sí hay dinamismo, pero lo que más decora la narrativa es la música, compuesta por Justin Hurwitz, con quien Chazelle ha trabajado en todas sus películas. Hurwitz logra equilibrar el peso dramático de la historia con un tono sensible pero inocente, casi infantil, que nos permite ver a Armstrong como un adulto pero escucharlo como un niño, espantando por la inmensidad del mundo y lo pequeño de su existencia.
Concluí que ésta no es una mala película. El chico está sumergido en su propia cultura y no tiene miedo de honrarla, ya sea a través de la música o de los héroes de su historia, él es capaz de generar presencia en la voz de las sociedades, ya sea con gestos de admiración o con debates. Lo que es indudable es que su dirección no lo ha defraudado, pues cada historia que cuenta está cuidada en todos los aspectos necesarios para colocarse por arriba del promedio de la calidad artística que se presenta en esa temporada y First Man no es la excepción.… Expand

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4

BioTofuNov 2, 2018

the shaky cam felt very unnecessary and it was giving me slight motion sickness. i thought the shakiness was a reflection of armstrongs inner self but the whole damn movie it just shoke nonstop even when characters are just sitting still on athe shaky cam felt very unnecessary and it was giving me slight motion sickness. i thought the shakiness was a reflection of armstrongs inner self but the whole damn movie it just shoke nonstop even when characters are just sitting still on a chair. then a lot of the scenes felt like the director just threw his camera and a broken flashlight into a tumble dryer and those scenes would go on for ever. most of the time the audience is just confused at what is going on on the screen. armstrongs character was also so distant and unlikable compared to some of his colleagues, which really made it hard for me to understand him. if you like the style of lincoln you might like this movie. but I thought lincoln was much more interesting to watch… Expand

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4

WidewadatNov 2, 2018

Predictable and over-dramatized. Mediocre cinematography, shaking cameras and very obvious music leading to and underlining every single dramatic moment. Characters are dimensionless and don't change, neither learn anything. The movie doesn'tPredictable and over-dramatized. Mediocre cinematography, shaking cameras and very obvious music leading to and underlining every single dramatic moment. Characters are dimensionless and don't change, neither learn anything. The movie doesn't address any problematic topics, doesn't teach anything, doesn't explore any emotions and isn't much entertaining. The acting is fine, but the whole plot is just boring.… Expand

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9

Taylord99Nov 2, 2018

Just over a week ago, I got to see First Man, which is directed by Damien Chazelle. He is known for directing La La Land and Whiplash, two films that I loved. Unlike his previous films, First Man is not about music and is about real events,Just over a week ago, I got to see First Man, which is directed by Damien Chazelle. He is known for directing La La Land and Whiplash, two films that I loved. Unlike his previous films, First Man is not about music and is about real events, specifically Neill Armstrong’s trials to become the first man to walk on the moon. The film focuses mainly on his family life and how he balances that with being an astronaut. This film surprised me as there were many details about Neill Armstrong that I never knew about before and apparently this film is very accurate as well. First of all, the acting in this film is top notch. Ryan Gosling gives a very grounded performance as Neill Armstrong and continues to convince me every year that he is a fantastic actor. I saw his incredible acting ability in Blade Runner 2049, The Nice Guys, and La La Land over the past two years. He made me feel attached to Neill Armstrong and made me sympathize and root for him throughout the movie. Claire Foy is also fantastic as Janet Armstrong and gives a very emotional and grounded performance. Like Gosling, she is convincing in every scene she is in. The supporting cast does a great job as well. The special effects and sound design are also extremely praise-worthy. There hasn’t been any other spaceflight movie quite like this one before. You hear every creak and every rattle in the spacecrafts and it feels very claustrophobic and sometimes even scary. This movie really captures the claustrophobia and fear that the astronauts surely experience during spaceflight, especially during this time period, I’m sure. In the 60s, spacecrafts were basically metal cans that were shot up into space and were not made for comfortability, only for function, so it would make sense that they wouldn’t be the quietest or safest things out there. The exterior space shots also look extremely realistic, especially the moon landing scene, which absolutely blew me away. The musical score is also done well by Justin Hurwitz, who also composed La La Land. On all levels, this film is masterful. It takes you on a soaring journey with a perfect balance of drama and suspense. I was glued to the screen from start to finish. The ending will surely dazzle you and may even make you shed a tear. Damien Chazelle proves that he is a very versatile director considering that he can direct movies with completely different themes, such as music and space, and do them both extremely well. I can’t wait to see what Damien Chazelle and Ryan Gosling due next.… Expand

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8

ItsJustArcherNov 2, 2018

First Man proves that Damien Chazelle can direct a damn good movie whether it's a musical or not. Although I have a few issues with the film, the overall experience I got from the film was just breathtaking and out of this world... literally!First Man proves that Damien Chazelle can direct a damn good movie whether it's a musical or not. Although I have a few issues with the film, the overall experience I got from the film was just breathtaking and out of this world... literally! This is definitely a great film to watch in theaters.

Like I said, I have a few issues with the film. For one, the cinematography, although it's mostly great. Sometimes I just can't focus too much on the screen because of some shaky cam shots. I admire the fact that most of the film's shots are close-up shots of the characters' faces, the similar way The Safdie Brothers' Good Time was shot. Because that way, we get to see the characters' emotion fully expressed in the scenes, although admittedly, this distracted me a bit because I feel like I wanted to see more of the characters' environment. Another problem is that the ending felt anticlimactic. It was subtle, yes, but it made me wanting more, in a bad way because of how much I was invested with the story that I wanted to see what happens afterwards.

Other than that, this movie was pretty great! The '60s atmosphere of the film felt real because most of the film (correct me if I'm wrong) is shot on film, which gives the grainy-ish texture of the cinematography on screen. The atmosphere and tone of the film was consistent. The scenes that take place on NASA and on the moon were intense. The Gemini 8 sequence is one of the most breathtaking and intense moments I have ever seen in a long time and it gave me chills and goosebumps for a while. And the music, although I thought it could've been better, really fits with the scenes that play the score. Ryan Gosling does a great job, as always. All the actors did a great job. And the script was well written. And I had a blast with this film. Go see this film!… Expand

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8

Creeper3455Nov 2, 2018

“Our movie about Neil Armstrong isn't doing well at the Box Office? Fine,we'll take it from here with Michael Myers” -Some random imbecile at Universal Pictures AKA that one dude who won't know how enthralling First Man is.
But in all“Our movie about Neil Armstrong isn't doing well at the Box Office? Fine,we'll take it from here with Michael Myers” -Some random imbecile at Universal Pictures AKA that one dude who won't know how enthralling First Man is.
But in all seriousness,First Man is destined to have a huge impact on everyone's minds. Also WARNING,I guess: This will be another bias on how IMAX is still the best place to watch a movie...Even if everyone should expect that from now.
So,to start things off,don't worry. for a movie that narrates the events between 1961 and 1969,it doesn't jump from year to year. You'll experience huge time jumps,while at the same time exploring how many tears and oil splatter it took to make this big leap (no pun intended),alongside Ryan Gosling playing Neil Armstrong amsterfully and a Claire Foy who feels pretty stale in emotions throughout,carrying the “seriously worried” look every 24/7.
Also,just like A Quiet Place,sometimes the Sound Effects help carrying the story. Whether it's a BEEP or the sound of an alarm,it still pulls you through. Speaking of sound,man. With every missile engine going and the sound STRONGLY fading away after the moon landing,things won't get any louder than that… Until the next Godzilla movie comes out.
If there’s a thing I can praise the most alongside the story is the Production Design. Nothing great on it,but there always was that feeling of pure classic reality through the movie,followed by grainy 35mm footage that feels like it came out 1 or 2 years after the Moon Landing actually happened….Until the IMAX Footage kicks in,in that case...Well,it’s great as always,but that’s to be expected from IMAX…
For issues and headaches,there was an overuse of Shaky Cam throughout the movie...Not all of it,as the IMAX Sequences were slow and perfectly normal.
And the score by Justin Hurwitz is weird at times. Had Thomas Newman been the composer,I could see his direction,instead of “Oh,I’ll try my best to make that campy 70s space movie feeling with the music”.
But in that case...Hell,this must be tough… This may be the second shortest review I’ve ever done (Revenge is still on top) since everything about it felt great...And seeing it with a friend in IMAX was enthralling. SPOILERS: He loved the hell out of it,and I’m glad he did. Everyone needs to discover these new ways of immersing you into the movie… They’re really worth the $20 or 30. Oh shoot,the movie. First Man is an amazing albeit tension-filled time at the movies,with Ryan Gosling’s calmest role since...Ever?
And hey,for a director who’s all about music...This was a pivotal change of pace!… Expand

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10

alienchaosOct 29, 2018

The fact that they landed on the moon isn't the real story. It's how they got there. The scenes involving space flight literally put you right in them to experience them full force. It's definitely a movie where if you can get immersed in theThe fact that they landed on the moon isn't the real story. It's how they got there. The scenes involving space flight literally put you right in them to experience them full force. It's definitely a movie where if you can get immersed in the story, then you will find it insanely fantastic. But, if you aren't immersed, you probably will find it a bit boring and slow. However, the back story is essential to understanding the man who is so revered but poorly known outside of his family. This movie is a strong effort to explain his motivations and get away from the all-american hero image that is perpetrated still today.… Expand

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