Movie Title: First Man
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Christopher Abbott, Ciarán Hinds, Lukas Haas, Patrick Fugit, Olivia Hamilton, Pablo Schreiber, Shea Whigham
Review: The riveting story of NASA's mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost-on Armstrong and on the nation-of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
First Man is a brutally honest and intense historical account of the life of Neil Armstrong and his family in the events leading up to the famed Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. This film does a fantastic job chronicling and developing the characters of Neil and Janet Armstrong, and it does so in a way that's authentic and holds nothing back. So much of this story I was previously unaware of, and I commend Damien Chazelle and Josh Singer for telling this story without sugar coating any of the gritty background details surrounding one of the biggest accomplishments in the history of the United States. Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy are both brilliant in playing Neil and Janet respectively. They played these characters with such conviction and emotion as we are taken on a crash course of all of the highs and lows associated with their lives during this time period. Everything from the death of their 2-year-old daughter and several friends from the space program, to the highs of being selected for such a monumentally important mission are all touched on in this film. This film tugs at the heartstrings on several occasions. Imagine having to sit your kids down and tell them that you may never see them again if your dangerous space mission fails. While certainly not an easy watch, I think this movie absolutely merits a watch as a truly remarkable adaptation of the infamous Neil Armstrong moon landing. First Man is a masterpiece and a testament to great writing, acting, and filmmaking across the board!
Fun Fact: Mark Armstrong and Rick Armstrong said that First Man was the most accurate portrayal of their father, Neil Armstrong, and their mother, Janet Armstrong.