A Gosling that you just have to see; and such regal poise in Foy's Janet Armstrong

Rating: Null/10 (30 October 2018)

The success of this biopic, against the usual setback (that is, no element of suspense), should be credited to all: writing (Josh Singer - "Spotlight, "The post"), directing (Damien Chazelle - "Whiplash", "La La Land") and acting, particularly acting.
The movie starts with two brief defining sequences. With no preliminaries, it serves notice that if you are claustrophobic, continue watching at your own risk. It puts you in Neil Armstrong's position, literally, looking out from his face mask to the rocking, dizzy surroundings of instrument penal and switches, as well as getting glimpses of the vast open of nothingness outside, wondering if this is the last thing you see. At the completely polarized, heartbreaking opposite, you will the see him cradling toddler daughter Karen who is dying of cancer.
While the last hour of this 140-minute movie is absolutely riveting, it runs a tad too long in establishing the familiar historical environment, down to using 78 RPM records, and then the song "500 Miles". Interesting though it is to observe people still using pen and paper to write notes, even in the cockpit! At about mid-point, it picks up momentum with the cliff-hanger (despite the no-surprise innate setback, thanks to good direction and audio background) of the malfunctioning "Gemini 8" sequence.
If I were to pick the most defining scene, it will have to be saying goodbye at home before heading out to the climactic finale of the moon landing mission. Stop for a second to consider the scenario: it is a journey not one single individual being had ever experienced since the dawn of humanity when they stood erect, leaving their identity of apes behind. How do you say goodbye to your family before such a journey to the moon?
Neil busies himself packing, to kill time as well as to numb his emotion, but Janet's insists that he say goodbye to the two boys (around 8, 9 maybe). To prepare them for the fact that he might never come home, she says, a job only he can do. "I'm done with it" she adds emphatically. The entire family sits around the kitchen table as the boys ask a couple of simple questions which lead to some technical talk from the father. Then, dead air. When Neil prompts for any more questions, one of the boys finally asks if he might not come back, a possibility he acknowledges. Janet seems satisfied and with a "that's it" look, and sends the boys to bed. One of the boys hugs him. The other holds out a small hand to shake.
I have always enjoyed watching Ryan Gosling, since "The Believer" (2001), and always seen him as a charismatic, powerful actor. As taciturn Neil Armstrong, Gosling once again demonstrates his acting talent.
I would normally not use "regal" to describe Janet Armstrong who clearly has the stuff needed to be an astronaut's wife. Claire Foy however makes its fit, in the aforementioned scene. As well, during a crisis when she is right in NASA and refuses to leave, she confronts the backroom team with "You're a bunch of boys making models out of basla wood. You don't have anything under control".
There is a strong support cast including Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll and Ciaran Hinds, just to name the better-known ones. When Oscar nominations are announced sometime in January 2019, "First Man" will most certainly be included, although in what categories will be anybody's guesses.