As most of us are aware, this movie tells the story of Neil Armstrong’s journey in becoming the first man on the moon. But, just as it took almost ten years from Kennedy’s speech proposing an American on the moon, this movie is much more than Armstrong’s “one small leap for man.” The movie begins in 1961 with Neil flying an X15 plane which takes him by accident to 147 kilometers above earth. This was Neil’s first foray out of the earth’s atmosphere and the beginning of his fascination of exploring outer space.
It’s also during this time, Neil and his wife Janet, are in the midst of their young daughters battle with a brain tumor. This Neil Armstrong is seen as a doting father meticulously documenting the toddler’s treatment and exploring all possible treatments. Unfortunately , Karen succumbs to her illness as does a part of Neil. One very important scene happens at this point. Neil takes the bracelet worn by Karen (a popular variety of baby bracelets at the time that spelled KAREN), places it into a desk drawer and closes the drawer shut. The only time we see emotion from Neil is at this time. Neil’s putting Karen’s bracelet in the drawer, also marks when Neil puts his own emotions there, shutting off a part of himself from friends and family.
Neil moves forward to NASA first in the Gemini program then Apollo. Neil’s sole focus becomes the Apollo program at the expense of his family. Janet, the stereotypical sixties housewife in shift dresses and loafers, holds the family together with little help from Neil. On his last night Home prior to leaving for his Apollo mission, Janet admonishes Neil for not speaking and preparing his sons for the possibility of his not returning home from his mission to the moon. This family scene at the kitchen table, shows just how closed off Neil has become from his family. His speech belonged in the workplace, not with his concerned family. Fittingly for Neil, the scene ends with a handshake between he and his oldest son.
This movie is destined to win awards for it’s special effects and sound. Seeing the progression of the Gemini to Apollo instrumentation is eye opening. It’s hard to believe how successful early space flight was with early 1960’s technology.
Also striking is the barren solitude of the lunar surface in comparison to the journey of Apollo 11. The astronaut deaths, broken families, the roar of the booster rockets all culminate to silence on a barren grey planet. The journey is complete for both NASA and Neil. I’m not giving it away, but one very important scene of Neil, alone on the moon’s surface brings closure to him and the loss of Karen. This is a movie, but I really hope that scene is real, and not part of a screenwriter’s imagination.
Fun fact from First Man, did you know astronauts were known as “Sailors in the sky"?
Ryan Gosling is gorgeous as ever playing the stoic and emotionless Neil Armstrong, but I have to say Claire Foy as Janet is incredible as the glue that holds this family together. This movie was enjoyable with amazing special effects, but it did miss its mark in two important places. First Man touches on racial tensions regarding NASA’s spending and America’s space race against the Russians, but at over 2 hours and 30 minutes running time, I felt these two issues deserved more screen time.
First Man is rated a solid B, definitely worth a ticket price. If you are a Ryan Gosling, space or engineering fan, see it at the theatre, then I’m sure you’ll want to binge watch it though Redbox.
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