[Review] First Man: What Does the Moon Represent?

After directing Whiplash and La La Land, Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle became one of Hollywood's most sought-after filmmakers. His new work, First Man, was highly anticipated and considered an Oscar frontrunner even during its production.

"We choose to go to the Moon... not because they are easy, but because they are hard." Former US President John F. Kennedy delivered this famous speech in 1962, seven years before Neil Armstrong's successful moon landing, explaining the philosophy behind the lunar program. This speech also appears in First Man. The moment I finished the film, I immediately had this thought: Damien Chazelle chose to tell this moon landing story not because it was easy, but because it was hard. While watching the film, I was convinced that with the director's ability, he could absolutely make a typical moon landing film—tense, thrilling, and full of special effects—that would be a box office hit. However, he didn't do that. When the film was screened at various film festivals earlier, some American audiences criticized it for not including the scene of Armstrong planting the American flag on the moon, arguing that it failed to highlight this glorious American achievement. Honestly, Damien Chazelle could have made a very sentimental film, depicting how American astronauts overcame numerous difficulties, countered the Soviet threat, and finally, against all odds, planted the American flag on the moon. I firmly believe that if the director had done so, it would have moved countless American audiences to tears in theaters, and international audiences would also have felt that sense of American exceptionalism. But Damien Chazelle didn't do that. The story he chose to tell wasn't about Apollo 11, but First Man, the story of Neil Armstrong.

For other films, the focus may be on the "moon landing," but the film emphasizes the "first man" to land on the moon: Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling). The opening scene of the film depicts one of Armstrong's flight missions. The entire scene has little dialogue, only many intimate close-up shots of Armstrong. As I watched this scene, I kept wondering: What was Armstrong thinking at that moment? Why did he want to go to space? When far from Earth's surface, looking at the silent expanse of space and the distant moon, what was on his mind? The film chooses to begin here, not directly narrating Neil Armstrong's moon landing during the Apollo 11 mission, but tracing back to the period before he even joined that mission. Why? Because the film needs to introduce a character who appears for only a few minutes but is crucial to the entire film: Armstrong's daughter. Armstrong initially intended to stay home to care for his seriously ill beloved daughter and not participate in the Apollo mission. Later, his daughter unfortunately passed away, and Armstrong soon decided to join the Apollo mission. The pain of losing a child, of course, cannot heal overnight. During his interview, Armstrong was asked about the significance of the moon landing mission to him. He stated that people are accustomed to viewing the world from Earth, and the moon landing mission would allow humanity to see things from another perspective, perhaps revealing things previously unseen. For Armstrong himself, after his beloved daughter's death, he basically never truly confronted that grief. After crying at the funeral, he immediately immersed himself in work, burying his pain deep inside, without even talking to anyone about his feelings.

Throughout the entire process of preparing for the moon landing, Armstrong faced more goodbyes and endured more pain. In the moment of parting with his family before the Apollo 11 mission, he didn't know how to face them. All this time, it had been others leaving him; now, he might be leaving his family forever, bringing them infinite sorrow. Over the years, in addition to personally experiencing the pain of his beloved daughter's passing, he also witnessed the devastation endured by widows after their friends died; their lives seemed to stop, becoming meaningless and devoid of feeling. Therefore, compared to his children, he perhaps didn't know how to face his wife, Janet (played by Claire Foy), wanting to avoid hurting her again. Of course, everyone knows the outcome of this moon landing mission, and has seen and heard the images and recordings of Armstrong on the lunar surface. However, the film doesn't focus on this iconic scene, nor does it portray Armstrong's moments on the moon dramatically or exhilaratingly. Instead, this scene is depicted very calmly, with little dialogue and even minimal background music. After landing on the moon, Armstrong finally gets to see Earth from another perspective, reflecting on his experiences over the years, especially his life after losing his daughter. This scene is very understated, yet full of emotion and incredibly moving. When we think of the moon, we think of Armstrong. This film offers us a perspective, allowing us to understand what the moon represented in Armstrong's mind. On the moon, he confronted his pain and made a choice; after returning to Earth, how would he live on? The film's final scene perhaps provides us with the answer.

From the very first scene, the film features many intimate shots of Armstrong. Even though the film portrays Armstrong as a very reserved person who doesn't show his emotions, we can still understand the character's development as the plot progresses, aided by the use of different camera angles. One scene that deeply impressed me was Armstrong playing with his family. The rapid camera movements and cuts, along with the intimate shots, allowed the audience to feel the warmth and joy of this family, reminding me of some scenes from The Tree of Life. As mentioned earlier, when narrating the moon landing process, the film does not focus on emphasizing America's glorious achievement but instead explores the psychological changes and thoughts of Armstrong's character. Although the film also touches on the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the significance of American astronauts landing on the moon, the film ultimately revolves around Armstrong himself. Therefore, if viewers immerse themselves in the film and understand its context, they will comprehend why the film deliberately omitted the scene of planting the American flag when narrating Armstrong's experience on the lunar surface. The director's choice to tell the story from this perspective may not please all audiences, but at least he offers us a unique, human, and emotional angle to re-examine this important moment in human history.

Besides the moon landing scene, two other scenes in the film left a profound impression on me: the two rocket launch sequences. Armstrong had two space missions in his life, both of which are depicted in the film, but in two distinctly different ways. When presenting the launch of his first space mission, Gemini VIII, the film primarily focuses on depicting Armstrong's fear. Before entering the spacecraft, Armstrong walks across a violently shaking platform, and the sound effects and visuals of this scene alone are enough to make the audience feel the danger of the mission. Once inside the spacecraft, the camera almost entirely remains within the capsule, with no external shots of the spacecraft launching. The film employs a very realistic approach here, with minimal cuts, continuously using violently shaking shots to capture Armstrong's condition inside the capsule, highlighting the claustrophobia, instability, and fear within. When Apollo 11 launches, the film uses more stirring music, as if embarking on a grand adventure. In this launch scene, the film uses many shots to capture the exterior of the spacecraft, emphasizing its grandeur. Then, when the rocket officially ignites and lifts off, the camera shoots from below, capturing the flames from its thrusters and the resulting smoke, and then the rocket ascends into the sky amidst thick smoke, perfectly conveying the awe-inspiring nature of this mission. These two rocket launch scenes use different staging to achieve such distinct effects, truly demonstrating the director's impressive storytelling skills.

Following La La Land, director Damien Chazelle once again collaborates with Ryan Gosling. Gosling's previous performances have typically been more restrained, without much outward expression, making the role of Armstrong seem tailor-made for him. Armstrong's expressions throughout the film are minimal; even when expressing his displeasure, he shows little emotion. Yet, we can still discern his emotional shifts through his eyes as the plot develops and various camera techniques are used. One scene that deeply impressed me was Armstrong playing with his family. The rapid camera movements and cuts, along with the intimate shots, allowed the audience to feel the warmth and joy of this family, reminding me of some scenes from The Tree of Life. As mentioned earlier, when filming Armstrong's mission scenes, the film uses many intimate shots, relying heavily on Ryan Gosling's eye acting to convey the sense of danger at different moments of the mission, as well as Armstrong's sense of accomplishment and satisfaction upon achieving success. Of course, I must also mention the scene where Armstrong's emotions erupt after losing his daughter. This is a rare emotional outburst for Ryan Gosling in this film, and even in his previous works. Although this scene is not long, it is incredibly moving, truly allowing the audience to feel the pain of losing a child. At the same time, the newly crowned Emmy winner Claire Foy also delivers a brilliant performance. She sheds her British accent to play Armstrong's wife, Janet, and what impressed me most was her smile in various situations. Janet in the film experiences the grief of losing their daughter with Armstrong, and then Armstrong tells her he has been chosen for the moon landing mission. She puts on a happy face and smile, expressing her joy for him, but it leaves the audience with mixed feelings. Later, as Armstrong spends most of his time training for the mission, Janet has to care for their son alone while also enduring media interviews and scrutiny. She puts on a forced smile, yet her strong worry is evident.

Director Damien Chazelle's two previous works, Whiplash and La La Land, both centered on music. Although First Man focuses on the moon landing, music still plays a crucial role in the film. This time, the director once again collaborates with Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz, incorporating a diverse range of music into the film. For example, during Armstrong's Gemini VIII docking mission, light classical music plays in the background, combined with the visuals of Armstrong piloting the spacecraft and the light captured by the camera, creating one of the most delightful scenes I've seen this year. The film's musical accompaniment in other scenes is also excellent, including the African American music during the protest scenes, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the time. And during the moon landing, the film lets "silence speak louder than words," with the lack of sound better conveying a sense of tranquility. In addition to the score, the film's art direction and cinematography are also superb. For instance, in many scenes inside the spacecraft, the film focuses on the flickering numbers and instruments. The film skillfully uses visual treatment without dialogue to explain these numbers and instruments, successfully creating a sense of tension. Another scene that deeply impressed me also involved the spacecraft: the camera captures the cold exterior of the spacecraft, with almost no movement, and no longer shows the interior of the spacecraft, yet it is enough to make the audience imagine unsettling, terrifying scenarios.

Damien Chazelle's Whiplash received 5 Oscar nominations that year, and earned veteran actor J.K. Simmons an Oscar. Last year, his La La Land tied the Oscar record with 14 nominations and won 6 awards, making him the youngest ever Best Director. While it remains to be seen whether First Man will win big at next year's Oscars, it at least once again showcases the director's talent, proving that he is one of the most anticipated directors working today.