First Man (2018)
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The film explores the personal costs and triumphs of Neil Armstrong leading up to the historic Apollo 11 mission.
The story
In 1961, NASA test pilot Neil Armstrong experiences a series of challenges, including a harrowing flight in the X-15 rocket-powered spaceplane and the tragic loss of his daughter. Despite the personal toll, he is selected for the prestigious Project Gemini and eventually the Apollo program. As he trains alongside other astronauts, the pressure of the Space Race against the Soviet Union intensifies. The film follows Armstrong's journey through the high-stakes environment of NASA, documenting the physical and emotional demands of preparing for the ultimate mission: the first human landing on the Moon.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the loss of his daughter and a series of mishaps in the X-15 program, Neil Armstrong is selected for Project Gemini. He moves to Houston with his wife Janet and their children, where he trains alongside other astronauts like Ed White and faces the pressures of the Space Race. After a successful but dangerous mission on Gemini 8, he learns of the tragic deaths of his colleagues in the Apollo 1 fire. Despite a near-fatal accident during a training exercise, Armstrong is chosen to command Apollo 11. As the launch nears, he becomes emotionally distant from his family. During the mission, he takes manual control of the Lunar Module Eagle during a difficult landing and successfully touches down on the Moon. He leaves his daughter's bracelet at Little West crater before returning to Earth, where he and his family are placed in quarantine.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 141
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Damien Chazelle
- Writers
- Josh Singer · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Ryan Gosling · Neil Armstrong; Claire Foy · Janet Armstrong; Jason Clarke · Ed White; Kyle Chandler · Deke Slayton; Corey Stoll · Buzz Aldrin; Christopher Abbott · Dave Scott; Ciarán Hinds · Bob Gilruth
- Genres
- biographical drama; adventure
- Themes
- grief; sacrifice; obsession
- Tone and mood
- gritty; realistic; somber
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; space exploration; biography
- Source material / true-story basis
- James R. Hansen's 2005 book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and score, though it underperformed at the box office.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 56; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 79%
- Production trivia
- The film was shot without the use of green screen, utilizing LED displays instead.; The production used four different film formats, including Super 16mm, 35mm Techniscope & Super 35 3-perf, and IMAX 70mm.; The film was originally announced in 2003 with Clint Eastwood slated to direct.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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