Armstrong biopic prioritizes conflict over outer space

Rating: 6/10 (24 August 2019)

The renewed interest in the final frontier in film has resulted in some really good (and pretty bad) projects. Damien Chazelle's critically acclaimed box office bust 'First Man' falls somewhere in the middle of the pack, as some had a much different vision of what this film would be about.
At its core, 'First Man' is the story of the conflict experienced by the most famous man to ever visit space. Ryan Gosling stands in as Neil Armstrong alongside Claire Foy as his wife, Janet. The two are very good actors in their own right, but they do not have the necessary spark or chemistry to make the strained relationship feel authentic. That said, this is very much an actor's movie, and neither one should be disappointed with their performances. The supporting cast is alright - nothing spectacular, but they do the job. The special effects are not the main attraction here, that's for sure. Yes, part of the film takes place in space (and more specifically, on the moon), but these scenes feel like they are inserted just because they need to be based on the story.
The one aspect that really stands out in 'First Man' is the soundtrack. Just Hurwitz ('La La Land,' 'Whiplash') really goes all in and delivers a memorable story through sound. It earned a Golden Globe, and easily could have ended up with an Oscar, too.
Despite its poor commercial success, 'First Man' did not deserve all the negative attention it received. It's not an amazing film by any stretch, but it's an important story of one of the most beloved American heroes.