weirdly boring

Rating: 4/10 (30 July 2019)

The story of mankind's travels to the Moon is a riveting story of heartbreak, suffering, ingenuity, courage and perseverance. As a result one might think that even a two-year-old baboon could make a halfway entertaining movie about the subject matter. Yet this is a boring and soulless movie - I can honestly state that I have seen more compelling documentaries. Even watching the actual contemporary footage, with or without comments, is more compelling.
The problem here is dramatic and narrative rather than visual and technical, since the cinematography is superb. So are the various special effects.
While we're at it, the ending too is remarkably bland and cold and ineffectual.
"First Man" doesn't satisfy as a biopic, either. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that Mr. Armstrong didn't go through life looking and feeling that sedated, bland and wooden. At times it felt like seeing the "Dilbert" cartoon character step into an experimental jet or an Apollo capsule. May God keep you on your perilous journey, Dilbert - and remember, you are carrying the hopes and aspirations of the whole human race !
All in all, the movie obscured rather than illuminated Mr. Armstrong's personality - I now know LESS about him than I did before watching the movie.
So no, not recommended, although there are some fine images and effects to savour.