For Neil, it was enormous tragedy. First Man tells the story we didn’t know about him, and why walking on the moon for him was bittersweet. It’s not a feel-good story. My friend Bru’s dad told him he didn’t like the film – I’m sure because it didn’t portray Armstrong as a True ‘Merican Hero. But what Dad fails to understand is that Armstrong was all the more a superhero because of what he accomplished in spite of his personal life.
Damien Chazelle, who wrote and directed Whiplash and La La Land, directed First Man, and has hit another home run. Want to know what it’s like to be rattling around in the cockpit of an aircraft as it bounces off the atmosphere? You will.
The Oscar-nominee level films are now coming out. This is one of them. You really should see it.
