'First Man' Review

It's fitting that Damien Chazelle would make a movie about going to the moon, as he has been on his own meteoric rise as of late. Never before has a director arrived on the world stage in such an swift yet spectacular fashion. Both Whiplash and La La Land are nailed-on, 5 star classics. Whilst First Man might appear on the surface to be a vast departure from his other works, it's a very Chazelle movie and is right up there with his best.

First Man tells the story of America's triumphant mission to the moon in a way that you've never seen before. This is primarily a Neil Armstrong (Gosling) biopic, focussing on his personal journey and how the pressure of his country on his shoulder's puts huge strains of his personal and professional life.

One of Damien Chazelle's most notable skills is his ability to get the very best out of his actors. He led both J.K. Simmonds (Whiplash) and Emma Stone (La La Land) to Oscar winning performances, and his use of Ryan Gosling in this film is worthy of similar accolades. I'm a massive fan of Gosling and this is, in my mind, his very best performance. He is exceptional. He treads the line between the likeable and introverted perfectly. He provides a fascinating viewpoint into the psyche of Armstrong. First Man might seem far removed from Whiplash and La La Land, but the through lines of obsession and it's risks are ever present. His performance is nuanced and subtle, but still capable of bearing the weight of the heavy emotional beats this film throws your way. I have a horrible feeling that he won't win best actor, given that Robert Redford's swan-song will surely grab the hearts of the academy, but he more than deserves it. He is simply tremendous.

Opposite Gosling, Claire Foy is superb as Neil's wife Janet. I've heard complaints that she isn't given enough to do but in reality she is the backbone of the story. Neil might be the protagonist, but Janet is the real hero, demonstrating the courage and reserve to hold their family together.  The relationship of Neil with his wife and son's is the true core of this film, and whilst the scope is dialled to 11 during the space scenes, Chazelle constantly maintains the focus on the real subject of this film, as signified by the very deliberate choice of ending shots.

Having said that, the sequences in space are breathtaking. Chazelle has such an exquisite eye for detail and it's on full display here. The intricacies of the suits and the shuttles (all specifically built to match the real life machines) are extraordinary. The sound design is incredible, the contrast between the eerie silences of space with the nerve-shredding noise of the rockets and shuttles. Certain shots even let you see events play out through Armstrong's eyes. It all contributes to one of the most realistic depictions of going to space you will ever see.

A major part of that realism is an emphasis on just how dangerous this mission was. The launch sequences are in many instances terrifying. So much intensity is created though the use of light and sound that, from the very first scene, you are constantly on the very edge of your seat. You feel like you're in the cockpit with the astronauts, with is both a delightful and horrifying experience. This film does a terrific job of reminding you just how much was at stake - people risked their lives for this cause and Chazelle doesn't shy away from this. The brutality of certain events and accidents is understated, which only serves to make it all the more devastating.

But this film is just as beautiful as it is harrowing. It takes it sweet time getting to the moon, but the gradual build up makes the pay off all the more satisfying. The sequences on the moon itself are just gorgeous - huge wide lens shots captured on IMAX cameras give such a sense of scale and expanse. The stunning visuals are paired with a fantastic score by Justin Hurwitz. 'The Landing' is one of the most mesmerising compositions I've ever heard.

First Man is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. Trying to identify a standout sequence is impossible, as there are so many scenes and individual shots that I've not been able to stop thinking about since I left the theatre. The space sequences are staggering, a perfect balance of gripping and gorgeous. But amongst the huge scope of these scenes, Chazelle never loses sight of the man beneath the mask. It's one of the most remarkable experiences I've ever had in a cinema (I cried 3 separate times for 3 very different reasons). My incoherent ramblings could never do this film justice - you NEED to see it, preferably on the biggest screen you can find. It's a term that's thrown around a lot these days, but First Man is a genuine masterpiece in every sense of the word.

5/5 Stars

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Film Studies - Week 1

Welcome to a new series of posts here on the blog. Now that I'm fully enrolled and settled into university life, I'm going to be watching a lot of movies this year (not much has changed there then). So this is the first instalment of a weekly round-up of all the movies I get to see through my years as a film student. Enjoy.


Avenger's Infinity War (2018)
Viewing - 4th

I don't think I'll ever be truly ready to describe my thoughts on this movie. It's a staggering achievement in film making. Somehow, the Russo's managed to draw together 10 years worth of characters, narratives and sub-plots and combine them into a story that is not only cohesive, but incredibly effective. It still captures the humour and charm of the MCU, whilst feeling tonally distinctive and original. It goes deeper and darker than any other comic-book movie has ever dared to tread and it pulls it of flawlessly.

5/5 Stars

Layer Cake (2004)
Viewing - 1st

This is a very Matthew Vaughn movie. Stylish, wise-cracking protagonists navigating a world of fleeting but extremely graphic violence. There's a lot of fun to be had with it, particularly in the performance of Daniel Craig. It's nice to see that pre-Bond sparkle in his eyes for a change. It suffers from poor pacing in the middle, as the conspiracy begins to unravel. But that whammy ending more than redeems it in my eyes. Well worth a watch.

4/5 Stars

Jaws (1975)
Viewing - 2nd

Despite my personal preference for Jurassic Park, I can fully understand why this is regarded as Spielberg's best work. It's a vital movie in terms of not only Spielberg's career but the state of blockbuster films on the whole. The shark itself isn't at all convincing, and it a lesser movie would be a causer laughter rather than fear. But the limitations of the shark never even cross your mind. It's masterfully suspenseful - even sequences where nothing of any real significance happens have you on the very edge of your seat. Simply fantastic.

5/5 Stars

American Animals (2018)
Viewing - 1st

A movie that I really enjoyed and one of the most inventive an original I've seen this year. The use of documentary-style interviews with the real life perpretators spliced into the reenactment of the event is a really innovative and engaging idea. The core four of the cast are really strong - Barry Keoghan and Evan Peters especially capture the likeness of their real world counterparts. The shift in tone, from joyous watching the gang 'revise' for the heist by watching classic crime movies to the devastation of watching the theft go badly wrong, comes suddenly and serves as a real kick in the teeth. It's a very unglamorous, harrowing depiction of a heist, the potency of which I haven't seen before.

4/5 Stars

First Man (2018)
Viewing - 1st

Be fully prepared for a full review of First Man shortly, as I really need the outlet to vent about just how incredible this movie is. I can't put it much simpler than you NEED to see this movie. Find the biggest cinema screen you can (I envy you if you're near an IMAX theatre) and prepare for one of the most staggering experiences you will ever have in a cinema.

5/5 Stars

That's all folks. See you next Sunday.