First Man

M
2018
|
141 mins
Trailer
Poster for First Man

Ryan Gosling is Neil Armstrong in this biopic written by Josh Singer (Spotlight) and directed by Damien Chazelle (La La... More

Where to watch First Man

First Man is available to stream in New Zealand now... More on Google Play and Prime Video and Apple TV Store.

First Man | Ratings & Reviews

"It happened sooner than expected: at the tender age of 33 years old, Oscar golden boy Damien Chazelle decided it was time to make his stodgy, pedestrian Clint Eastwood-in-twilight biopic. With Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle brought a distinctive brio to his tales of protagonists incurring sacrifices in the pursuit of greater ambition. First Man too, is a variant of this theme, sensitive, predominantly, to the personal collateral damage of its characters above all else."

Flicks, Aaron YapFlicks

"After seeing First Man, it’s doubtful you’ll think about space flight, or Armstrong’s historic walk, in quite the same way."

VarietyVariety

"All that gloom gradually smothers the film, with each shot of Armstrong staring, pained, at the moon (we get it; that's where he's going) further diluting the movie's pull."

Vanity FairVanity Fair

"Gosling and especially Foy are out of this world."

Total FilmTotal Film

"Thrilling when it escapes the gravity of drab living rooms and offices, First Man does an admirable job of complexifying a well-told tale."

Time OutTime Out

"The film reconstitutes our taciturn hero as a man riven with grief after the death of his daughter...It's a bold move and seems to inform Gosling's every decision as an actor."

The TimesThe Times

"Chazelle has always specialised in virtuoso endings, and his sure hand and sharp eye brings this ambitious character study smoothly into land."

The TelegraphThe Telegraph

"It is a movie packed with wonderful vehemence and rapture: it has a yearning to do justice to this existential adventure and to the head-spinning experience of looking back on Earth from another planet."

The GuardianThe Guardian

"The performances by Gosling - in a difficult, interior role - and Foy are exemplary."

The AustralianThe Australian

"First Man is the opposite of triumphalist, but an absolute triumph from beginning to end."

StuffStuff

"Whatever its missteps, "First Man" represents a principled attempt to reconsider what heroism looks and sounds like, to think beyond the reductive rah-rah parameters that have led so many to confuse jingoism with art."

Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times

"This is a confident but pretty bland technical exercise... The overall result is an authentic, visually impressive viewing experience that doesn't quite land."

Little White LiesLittle White Lies

"This sober, contemplative picture has emotional involvement, visceral tension, and yes, even suspense, in addition to stunning technical craft."

Hollywood ReporterHollywood Reporter

"Though its bravely unorthodox visual style and skeletal storytelling structure are sure to divide viewers in months to come, First Man is still undoubtedly one of the best and most significant movie releases of 2018."

Herald SunHerald Sun

"...a down-to-earth and frequently nail-biting piece of cinema."

FilmInkFilmInk

"Astonishing. The definitive take on a monumental moment in history - without ever losing sight of the man underneath the visor."

Empire MagazineEmpire Magazine

First Man | Details

Award winner
Visual Effects, Academy Awards 2019; Best Original Score, Golden Globes 2019
Rating
M, Offensive language
Runtime
141
Genre
Drama, True Story & Biography
Country of origin
USA