Somewhat routine

Rating: 5/10 (3 January 2020)

FIRST MAN is a routine dramatisation of America's lunar landings, following in the footsteps of Neil Armstrong as he undergoes personal tragedy and training issues on his way to becoming one of the 20th century's most famous figures. It's a lengthy and overly worthy affair, bogged down in a sense of its own importance. Cast members including Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy and Ciaran Hinds are all fine and dependable in their roles, but I found the direction somewhat pedestrian, only getting interesting in some outer-space visuals that feel like they hark back to the likes of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. It's not a bad film, but I'd much rather watch the real thing - i.e. a documentary - instead.