Universal Pictures has released a third trailer forFirst Man, and it’s the best one yet. This is the new film from Best Director Oscar winnerDamien Chazelle, but it’s markedly different than his breakout featuresWhiplashandLa La Land. This film tells the story of the journey to go to the moon through the eyes of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling), but Chazelle and screenwriterJosh Singer(The Post) frame the tale as one of great courage and loss. Indeed, the space program was incredibly dangerous, and Armstrong in particular was surrounded by death all the way up through his groundbreaking achievement. The film puts the viewers in the cockpit right alongside Armstrong and his fellow astronauts, and the sense of danger is palpable.
This trailer doesn’t showcase any dialogue from the film, and instead is a montage of scenes set to PresidentJohn F. Kennedy’s famous “We choose to go to the moon…” speech. It’s chilling, as Kennedy notes the difficulties that America will face in its mission while we see Chazelle’s gorgeous, haunting images flash across the screen.
I caughtFirst Manat TIFF and it’s very good, although for me it never hit the highs thatLa La Landdid. CinematographerLinus Sandren(La La Land) opts for a naturalistic, handheld, very intimate take on the visuals, and the result is something incredibly visceral—as you can see in this trailer. It’s kind of like ifTerrence Malickdirected a space epic. And yes, the American flag is seenthroughoutthe film, including on the moon.
Check out the newFirst Mantrailer below,click here to read Matt’s reviewfrom TIFF, andclick here to watch Steve’s interviewwith Chazelle and Sandgren from TIFF. The film also starsClaire Foy,Jason Clarke,Patrick Fugit,Corey Stoll, andKyle Chandler.First Manopens in traditional theaters and in IMAX on October 12th.
Here’s the official synopsis forFirst Man:
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral and intimate account told from Armstrong’s perspective, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the cost—on Armstrong, his family, his colleagues and the nation itself—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
Written by Academy Award® winner Josh Singer (Spotlight, The Post), the epic drama of leading under the pressure of grace and tragedy is produced by Wyck Godfrey & Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars) through their Temple Hill Entertainment banner, alongside Isaac Klausner (Love, Simon) and Chazelle. Steven Spielberg, Adam Merims and Singer executive produce, while DreamWorks Pictures co-finances the film.
