One small step for Man, one giant bore of a film.

Rating: 7/10 (16 October 2018)

"One small step for Man, one giant leap for mankind" are the famous first words uttered by NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong who became the first man to step foot on the moon in 1969.
First Man details the near decade long struggle by NASA to complete the first manned mission to the moon starring Ryan Gosling as Armstrong.
The film is surprisingly directed by Damien Chazelle a director more famous for great critical successes Whiplash (2015) and La La Land (2016).
The film charts the many setbacks faced by NASA including great tragedy leading up to the Apollo 11 mission.
Gosling seems emotionless at times. The film focuses on the inner demons of Armstrong and the seemingly constant cycle of grieving for his young daughter who tragically died through a brain tumour in the early 1960s.
Is it the struggling to come terms with her death that drives Armstrong onto ever dangerous space missions?
The film does drag on a little to much and loses some of its early promise. Not having lift off for me. (Pardon the pun).
A film called Apollo 13 many years ago also focused on the issues of sixties technological limitations.
Claire Foy plays Armstrong's long suffering wife Janet. Her performance is better than Gosling.
A film that has some good visuals but fails with a rigid leading man and a well documented story. After all who was alive in 1969 and didn't see the conclusion of the Apollo 11 mission?
The film despite running time issues does end abruptly with the moon landing as it's crescendo.
The film does give an Executive Producer credit to Steven Spielberg.