Director Damien Chazelle managed to create moments from NASAs history in such a way that it feels like you are there in the cockpit experiencing the same incredible feats performed by those pioneers of the space program.
Undoubtedly there are better movies about NASA and the early space program, but this one was the first to place me there so completely. If you have chance to watch, this is an experience movie. Make Sure you aren’t distracted. Watch on the biggest screen you can manage, and envelop yourself in sound.
Oooooh I’m dying to see this one! SciFi is absolutely my cup of tea, specifically “realistic” sci fi like The Martian or Ad Astra. Does it compare in any way to those two?
Most definitely, but in a more historical sense, of course. As long as you have the right immersion it really feels like you are being sent up with them in 60s tech. In a certain sort of way, I have never experienced anything like it.
Now I’m definitely going to go and see it :D
Visceral is indeed the word - the in-cockpit views with the squeaks and groans of stressed metal, the vibration of the camera, it is a world apart from the usual Hollywood “technology in the background”. First Man really emphasised the risk and cutting-edge nature of Neil’s career, culminating in the often confusing rotating and pitching view from the LM to Tranquility Base.
The sound design in those sequences really got me (the spinning too… Gemini 8 was crazy). The intensity level tops anything I’ve seen in this film genre before.
Sorry I’m so late to the party but…
I definitely agree that First Man, quoting you, “create(s) moments from NASAs history in such a way that it feels like you are there in the cockpit”. Another thing I found interesting was how dry the film was: Gosling’s Armstrong was so timid, almost verging on the autistic; the only “dramatic” performance in the entire film was that of Claire Foy and even she was subdued. This definitely wasn’t The Right Stuff! 😁
Watch on the biggest screen you can manage, and envelop yourself in sound.
I’d say this for all cinema really, but I couldn’t agree more in this case. Nice summation!
Oh yes, The Right Stuff is certainly the superior film and, while I am a fan of Gosling in general, it was a pretty weird take on the character/person.
Ooh, now…while I will say The Right Stuff is a great film, I won’t say it’s the superior film. I’m not saying First Man was better either. What I will say (finally! 😁) is that they are two films covering very similar subject matter with two totally different approaches. The Right Stuff was a cowboy movie in comparison!
