Neil Armstrong biopic with one of Gosling's best performances to date

Rating: 9/10 (10 November 2018)

Damien Chazelle goes into biopic territory with this compelling film about the man who first set foot on the Moon in 1969. Although it doesn't always offer the most incisive telling of his story, it gives us a good sense of how Armstrong went from a back-up astronaut, whose professional skill was the subject of much disagreement among his superiors to one of the central players in America's race with reach the Moon in the 1960's.
Ryan Gosling is not always known for roles that are too serious. But his trademark irony and youthful foibles are jettisoned in favor of something a bit more stolid and deliberate- and he excels here. My only complaint would be that he eclipses everyone else, including Claire Foy as his devoted wife, Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin and Jason Clarke as the astronaut Ed White who died in the Apollo 1 pre-launch test.
The sequences of space travel and the landing of the Moon can be quite jittery and unstable, but it does bring to the big screen the nerve-racking experience of space exploration and how much of a risk it was for those who undertook it. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, like my friend who watched it with me, it's a good idea to prepare for this film. The early part of the film also uses 35mm as a way of recapturing the era it takes place in. History buffs and space film aficionados will find a lot to enjoy here as Chazelle brings everything to life. Gladly recommended.