REVIEW | First Man (2018)

In which ‘out of this world’ becomes Damien Chazelle’s speciality.

*Oscar-season repost for the 91st Academy Awards.

With super-power countries struggling for supremacy, America falling behind in the space race, and NASA limited by technological setbacks. Dive into the story behind the Apollo 11 mission — one of the most dangerous endeavours of history that would send three astronauts far out into space — and launch Neil Armstrong from the colours of his country, to become the man who would bring us the Moon.

*Minor spoilers for First Man ahead*

For context:
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two people on the Moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin, both American, landed the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC.

If that passage about one of mankind’s greatest aeronautical achievements in history — was as inspiring as eating space food. Then you’ll be glad to know that First Man is light-years away from the pages of any Moon landing article you’ve read. And if I only had two words to best describe Damien Chazelle’s take on the historic lunar-landing odyssey — it’d be ‘Remarkable Reality’.

I mean we’re talking about an authentic-effort to ‘that giant leap for mankind’ here — we should be in for more Awe than yawns.

Next to other biopics — First Man may not have the orchestrated narrative of Steve Jobs (2015) or the powerful performance that delivered Darkest Hour (2017). But it thoroughly immerses you in its moments with storytelling that pulls you in like gravity, sequences that strap you in for the ride, and shots that fits you right in the helmet of a would-be astronaut.

Seriously, nothing’s left to chance when it came to depicting this adventure — whether on-screen, in the cockpit, or even under the ceilings.

You can have stories inspired by true events, or moments that define figures of history. But none of them can claim that their story led them to space — that their efforts brought them to the moon. And with such a milestone in humanity, First Man delivers an incredible piece of cinema to an outstanding degree and with enviable elegance.

And for those who already know the outcome of the famed Apollo 11 mission. You can expect this film to show you the transfixing and turbulent journey leading up to that ‘one small step’ of mission commander Armstrong. Humanising the entire operation and expanding the events well-beyond the history books that won’t have you just saying:

“It’s only the story about the Moon landing.”

you’ll instead be saying:
“The heart of the story was the size of the Moon.”

With visually spectacular movies like Interstellar (2014) thriving on cinema-magic showcasing new planets, fantastic space-sequences, and the hypothesised 4th-dimension. First Man is a film that does so much in the absence of face-blasting action, overflowing drama you could drown in, and convenient conclusions for comfort.

Like a space-exploration movie, grounded in reality, who would’ve thought?

From the cinematography that accentuates emotions, to the dialogue used to express every mission, down to the dials on-deck that enhance every ounce of tension on-screen. Almost every detail (big or small) seemed to be so carefully considered, that it’s as though they were engineered to carry you through the events like a passenger instead of a spectator.

Oh.. and the sounds?

Let’s just say that as far as visuals go — the sounds that are composed and designed for First Man is sequenced in ways that flood the halls with every frame, every flight, and every feeling. All intended to completely immerse you in the film, by sending the story straight-through your senses.

Which really shouldn’t surprise anyone, I mean — considering Chazelle’s distinct blend of sound and story found in his movies. Like the rhythm-focused Whiplash (2014), or the award-winning musical La La Land (2016) to name a few.

It’s a truly phenomenal pairing of audio and visual composition that’s working towards the same goal. And that is to transport audiences into the technologically-absent space-race era, while delivering the extreme and exhilarating experience of shooting for the Moon.

Showcasing something delightfully different from most modern sci-fi, and how the Apollo 11 mission became one of mankind’s greatest achievements.

In summary, Damien Chazelle’s space-story of the sixties paints — in tremendous detail — the many missions, the harrowing hardships, and the silenced struggles with a biopic that’s as poetic as it is profound. Bringing a whole new depth and perspective to the phrase ‘the first man on the moon’.

So If reading articles on man’s historic mission to the moon doesn’t draw your interest, going through recorded interviews doesn’t raise your eyebrows, and detailed documentaries just make you drowsy. Then there’s no better ticket to the stars than with this film.

And if you’re among the conspiracy theorists that believe the Apollo 11 mission was shot and done in a studio —

— then at least you can classify First Man as a marvellous 2018 reboot that you can properly enjoy.