First Man

This film had Damien Chazelle's fingerprints all over it. After Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle has established a very distinctive visual and auditory signature. The film had a docu-realistic feel to it whereby the story was told through Neil Armstrong's POV, and with that, came along a detailed sense of intimacy, when we explored his home/personal life, and also a genuine sense of trepidation and awe when he was at work and in space. Those scenes set within a space/air-craft were utterly gripping and by-your-seat tense, and that final act was fantastic, albeit surprisingly epic. Ryan Gosling remained an acting enigma, is his brooding, hardened stare and pursed lips meant to be serious actor or just brooding? Next to Claire Foy, whose every look carried so much more weight, the difference was noticeable.

At 141 minutes long, you can really feel the length of the movie especially the slightly bloated second act. Although logically it was inevitable since we needed the failures to highlight the pressure and emotional toll it had on Armstrong eventually. However, we never felt the development of the other relationships Armstrong had to really feel the loss.

Having said that, Armstrong's relationship with his wife Janet was also not as focused as the mission-to-the-moon, but those little moments between Gosling and Foy were effective. Chazelle easily charted the changing dynamics between the spouses at the different phases of the mission. And a lot of it really had to do with Foy's compelling acting.

Gosling had his moments, but throughout the whole film there are times when doubt arises as to what was actually going on between those pretty eyes. Which was so contrary to Foy.

If Gosling were to get a Best Actor nomination, then Foy should at least get a Best Support Actress nod, or in the bare minimum, thanked by Gosling for lifting him up.

The other big player in this film was the music. Again, Chazelle enlisted best bud Justin Hurwitz. And again, it sounded a lot like Whiplash and La La Land in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The snare drums made frequent appearances as did the jazz. It worked mostly although slightly on the nose - I get it...it is like a ballet in space. Although that score that accompanied the Final Act was jarringly epic and different to what had preceded, and yet as the scene went on, it kind of eased into familiar territory that was oddly fitting. So perhaps, it might just get recognised for that moment.

This film was clearly an Oscar-bait but yet seemed a bit light-weight  to Chazelle's previous fares (yes, even La La Land). Although it may still get into many categories depending on how the rest of the season goes. A sure bet, however, will likely be at least Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay nominations.