First Man (2018)

Dir. Damien Chazelle | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re a first time viewer of Chazelle, or if you’re back for the same feeling his previous masterpieces have given you then for sure find the biggest screen you can and go see his third crowning achievement.

This is a film that reminds me why we go to the cinema, to experience an other worldly (literally) ethereal experience. He dazzles us again, because he has such a devoted passion to his films and for cinema entirely. It’s a theater experience (second best to witnessing BR2049). It made me feel things I’ve never quite felt with any other film.

It’s a spectacle of cinema, a take on the prominent achievement in history-making it to the moon. I already had high hopes going in; and I was EVEN MORE blown away. Ryan Gosling is in a usual kind of role for him, yet this IS the best acting I’ve seen from him. The first act starts off much like whiplash, a black screen and then a gradual build up of intensity. Then, a kind of family drama back home, a quiet presence over the film and Neil is at a desk job that he pretty much hates. (I didn’t catch this detail until after I discussed it with my family.) It shows the desire to go to the moon and Neil’s turmoil dealing with his separation from society and his family. There is an impressive scene where Neil and others test out a simulation and it is a traumatic experience. It rotates every which way and honestly gives the audience the same experience. His relationship with his daughter, Karen, is the most touching piece in the core of this film. He is most vulnerable emotionally when he is with her. This remains something Neil clings on to throughout the duration of the film, and it’s really not talked about enough. It’s subtle at times and beautiful. Over the years, (considerable time jumps shown), the plan to go to the moon is finalized, after several failed attempts. The launch and trip to the moon is perfectly drawn out and were the final moments that devowred my emotions-quite literally. The film’s auroa made me feel like Neil felt, vulnerable and even sometimes helpless. I could really connect to him personally. He’s a character that Damien has taken some liberty with, yes, but he shows up consistently in his other films, probably the best in this one. Think about it: Whiplash features Andrew, a focused drummer that won’t stop for anything or anyone. He has a goal. La La Land, a double protagonist situation: Mia and Sebastian. Sebastian grows cold over his dream, defending what he has and what he has yet to achieve. Mia becomes the same way, except she handles her dream differently and follows it through. Neil is in the same way. Although, out of all the films, his is the most surreal and he lands on the damn moon. Impressive.

Now that you understand the film as a whole, I wanted to touch on the parts of it techincally, and thematically.

The acting, (as you’ve heard) is the strongest element of the film that works for the viewer. Gosling is emmaculate, and Claire Foy is his equal in every way. There were times, most of the duration of the film, I wasn’t watching Ryan, I was only seeing Neil Armstrong. Several examples of this, is when a particular plot point occurs and leaves Neil feeling trapped and emotionally crushed. He doesn’t need words, in fact there is not a lot of dialogue in the moments close to home. In one scene, he goes into a room by himself and sits down and lets it all go. He breaks down and full on weeps. Not crying on que, but like, actual gasping and lots of tears. This made me also cry, it was something I felt so close to, I felt close to Neil’s character and what he felt. And the moment he receives a phone call, after being so close, to hear that one of his friends and pilots “is gone…” Neil pauses, doesn’t say anything, yet you can see the emotions just on his face and his eyes. The scene where they are all seated around the table, before Neil leaves for his journey to the moon, his wife, Janet makes him sit the boys down and tell them that there is a possiblilty he might never return. This is the moment Neil is most vulnerable, he’s never been afraid on any mission, always focused and determined, but in this moment he’s terrified-terrified of leaving what he loves most, even if he doesn’t show it. Internally, he knows he has to face it head on, just like any mission, but this is the most important of them all. “So are there any more questions?” he asks. The shot composition in the scene is their four static faces, the only wide shot is when they all leave and Neil is sitting at the table by himself with is head down. This is possibly my favorite scene in the film. And the line of dialogue that stood out to me the most was when Neil is clearly, emotionally reached his limit, and he stands in his backyard by the pool looking up into the sky at the moon and his friend, Ed makes an attempt to comfort him by asking him if he wants to talk about it. Neil replies with “Do you think I’d be standing in my backyard if I wanted to talk to someone?” and then a beat of silence.

TECHNICALS

This is a film shot entirely in real time, no green screen, and limited CGI. The crew built miniature models of the spacecraft and the biggest light ever used was shown to light up an actual built set of the surface of the moon. It’s shot in stunning super 16mm film as well as IMAX for the space scenes. I noticed this immediately, every actor’s face was an extremely close up shot. And much of it is handheld, to create a more personal feel, and it even resembles a documentary the way it’s shot. There is a LOT of shaky cam during the depatrute from earth and my parents were with me in the theater, they said they had to look away. THE SOUNDTRACK is easily the best of the year and highly deserving of the Oscar. I’m sure many of you have heard “Quarantine” by Justin Hurtwitz (La La Land, Whiplash). There are no words to describe the song, just listen to it. Damein’s deciscion to shoot inside of the cockpit during take off was something I can really respect. It doesn’t follow other space movie norms. It defies it. The only cut to a wide shot is when the rocket is launching. My only complaint, is some of the shots are out of focus. The editing is perfect, and the sound design is a shining acocomplishment. I think this next thing was a directorial decision and very deliberate. I think the two differing tones of the film (the stressful, intense space scenes, and then the quiet, melodramatic family life sequences) create a barrier in the film, much like Neil’s barriers.

CONCLUSION

The final 30 minutes are what sold me. This film is a masterpiece in my eyes. How people say it doesn’t compare to his other two are beyond me. The slow, deliberance of the final countdown to the moon is chilling. The scenes where there is literally no sound in space-it was deafening. This editing and sound design choice gave me chills and literally brought tears to my eyes, especially when they land and the hatch opens on the moon, there is a sharp trill and then—nothing. The same audio recorded for the moon landing was used this sequence was the pinnacle of the film. The entire last minutes of the film, everything around me faded away it was just gone. I was literally standing on the moon as well. There’s something that Neil drops on the moon that broke me, and will destroy you if you haven’t already cried at this point. And Ryan’s reaction to it is masterful. I believe this was a perfect point to end the film at, but after thinking about it some more, I really respect the ending. There’s no dialogue and little to no soundtrack—Neil is in quarantine for three weeks after getting back and Janet comes and visits him. It’s shot so they’re not in the same shot at all yet. Just a shot of him behind the glassed in room and then a separate one of her, not making eye contact with him. He sits down and they lean in closer, finally meeting eyes and sharing the same frame. He does something calm and satisfied with his face and emotions and places a hand to the glass. She does the same, and it fades to black.

This, now that I think more about it, is the perfect ending for the film. It shows the distachement he’s been feeling and the isolation, but by a simple gesture of placing his hand to the glass, he’s reaching out to who he loves. This is the real mission he’s accomplished. I’d like to think their relationship was closer after the mission but I don’t know for sure. This is is Gosling’s perfect role as well as Claire Foy and the supporting cast. If Gosling doesn’t get the Oscar or this film at all, doesn’t get Oscar attention I might as well check out of the Academy Awards.

In conclusion, First Man is something that gave me a better insight on space exploration and Armstrong’s life. After being inspired by the film, I will be eager to read the screenplay and read his biography. Chazelle has a special talent for storytellijg. I think if you don’t know much about space, I’d highly recommend going in with an open mind and letting the immersive experience take hold of you like it did for me.