First Man. (15.)
Directed by Damien Chazelle.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Shea Wigham, Ciarán Hinds, Corey Stoll. 141 mins.
In this country we like a buttoned-down hero; someone who has done some incredible act of bravery yet doesn't want to talk about it. Still, if that incredible act of bravery was being the first man to fly to the moon I think even the stiffest of upper lips might feel compelled not to keep it to themself. The story of how NASA came to chose a reserved, tight-lipped man to represent all mankind, and how that role came to weight on him to such a degree that he became something of a recluse is a fascinating topic, which this film largely ignores.
Few people get the biopic they deserve. Armstrong's biopic is anonymous and dull, which seems harsh whatever his failings. There's a maddening lack of curiosity to it. Starting in 1961, we see him moving up through the ranks of civilian test pilots, defying death in a number of incidents and his, sometimes strained, family life with wife June (Foy.) We don't really see what marks Armstrong out as NASA's choice of ambassador, and the story ends when he gets back to earth. Like NASA, the film concentrates on just getting the job done.
It rattles through all these incidents and does it competently enough, but rarely with much interest. Chazelle brought passion, energy and life to his previous two films, Whiplash and La La Land. To this, he brings competence. At one point Clint Eastwood was interested in directing and you can't imagine his version being much different. Nothing makes a mark. Even the space sequences, though spectacular, don't show anything that wasn't seen in the NASA footage of the mission.
Ryan Gosling is Neil Armstrong. Except he isn't. His Armstrong is just another of his taciturn loners, albeit a family man taciturn loner. He does this kind of roles very well, and you would say he does this role very well if it wasn't for the fact that you never believe that he is Neil Armstrong, or anyone other than Ryan Gosling.
Directed by Damien Chazelle.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Shea Wigham, Ciarán Hinds, Corey Stoll. 141 mins.
In this country we like a buttoned-down hero; someone who has done some incredible act of bravery yet doesn't want to talk about it. Still, if that incredible act of bravery was being the first man to fly to the moon I think even the stiffest of upper lips might feel compelled not to keep it to themself. The story of how NASA came to chose a reserved, tight-lipped man to represent all mankind, and how that role came to weight on him to such a degree that he became something of a recluse is a fascinating topic, which this film largely ignores.
Few people get the biopic they deserve. Armstrong's biopic is anonymous and dull, which seems harsh whatever his failings. There's a maddening lack of curiosity to it. Starting in 1961, we see him moving up through the ranks of civilian test pilots, defying death in a number of incidents and his, sometimes strained, family life with wife June (Foy.) We don't really see what marks Armstrong out as NASA's choice of ambassador, and the story ends when he gets back to earth. Like NASA, the film concentrates on just getting the job done.
It rattles through all these incidents and does it competently enough, but rarely with much interest. Chazelle brought passion, energy and life to his previous two films, Whiplash and La La Land. To this, he brings competence. At one point Clint Eastwood was interested in directing and you can't imagine his version being much different. Nothing makes a mark. Even the space sequences, though spectacular, don't show anything that wasn't seen in the NASA footage of the mission.
Ryan Gosling is Neil Armstrong. Except he isn't. His Armstrong is just another of his taciturn loners, albeit a family man taciturn loner. He does this kind of roles very well, and you would say he does this role very well if it wasn't for the fact that you never believe that he is Neil Armstrong, or anyone other than Ryan Gosling.
