The film begins a little before Armstrong’s application to become an astronaut, and ends a little after he returns from the Moon.
Ryan Gosling plays Armstrong as an emotionally reserved, doggedly analytical pilot and scientist who joins NASA before the Gemini program and pushes himself hard, in part as a way of coping with his grief over the death of his young daughter. Oscar-winning La La Land director Damien Chazelle and Oscar-winning Spotlight co-writer Josh Singer take an intimate, impressionistic approach to the story of Neil Armstrong, the commander of Apollo 11 - NASA’s first time sending astronauts up to the surface of the Moon. The film is threaded with reflective interviews, and framed by scenes of the retiree’s daily life, as a member of one of the most exclusive clubs: the dozen people who’ve walked on the Moon.īecause First Man opens in theaters everywhere this weekend. Drawing on home movies and vast archives of NASA footage, Craig tells a fairly complete story of Cernan’s life in the space program, detailing his earlier missions (including the problem-plagued Gemini 9A) and the stress the astronaut lifestyle put on his family. The Last Man on the Moon, Mark Craig’s documentary about Gene Cernan, the commander of the Apollo 17 mission - which as of right now marks the final time America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration sent astronauts to the lunar surface.
Each Friday, The Verge ’s Cut the Crap column simplifies the choice by sorting through the overwhelming multitude of movies and TV shows on subscription services, and recommending a single perfect thing to watch this weekend. There are so many streaming options available these days, and so many conflicting recommendations, that it’s hard to see through all the crap you could be watching.