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Author Topic:   First Man (2018 Universal Pictures)
oly
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posted 10-01-2018 11:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
WOW.!

Jurg Bolli
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posted 10-01-2018 11:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jurg Bolli   Click Here to Email Jurg Bolli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just got back 5 minutes ago: The visuals are absolutely stunning, the movie seems to catch the times and Armstrong's personality very well. The only thing I did not like were the sounds effects: too much and way too loud.

Overall a great movie, I can strongly recommend it!

David C
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posted 10-02-2018 01:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In that Gemini clip, like in the LLTV seqence, some of the rates are exaggerated, but that's OK, it would feel worse for real. The visuals have to compensate for the audience being sat stationary. Can't wait to see it.

oly
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posted 10-02-2018 05:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I also can't wait to see it, tickets are booked.

The majority of the audience won't understand the rates, apart from the fact the numbers are high.

Both Armstrong and Scott have made comments over the years that during this event, after Armstrong moved the controller several times without getting the desired results, he handed over to Scott and asked him to try. During the post flight debrief they realised that this was a strange response, why would the control work differently for someone else. An anecdote that shows even test pilots are human.

denali414
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posted 10-02-2018 08:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for denali414   Click Here to Email denali414     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by lspooz:
...for an IMAX screening in Raleigh NC, but it'll be worth it.
Like they are having a panel discussion after the noon showing with a consultant from the film. Should be a good time.

space1
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posted 10-02-2018 09:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Robert for the trailer. I shouldn't be too critical. The trailer shows that they were good at capturing the stress and danger of the moment.

I already knew about a few changes they had made to the control panel. But they took VERY creative license with the addition of gooseneck lamps to the cockpit! And if you're going to have a crisis on orbit, you might as well go ahead and have the reentry sequence lights flashing along with all the other lights. (There wouldn't have been any lights flashing - everything else was working fine. But where's the thrill in that?) But I'm the only person who knows about that and the wrong switches and gauges being used, right?

There's no way they had strong rotational g forces adding to the stress. But plenty of disorientation and potential for blacking out, as is well depicted.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-02-2018 04:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Frank Hughes, who came to NASA after Gemini 8 but served as a sim supe simulator instructor from 1966 onward, was on set and provided guidance on depicting the sequence. I think Damien and his crew struck a good balance between what they thought was needed to convey the event to a general audience and remaining authentic to the history.
quote:
Originally posted by space1:
There's no way they had strong rotational g forces adding to the stress.
Josh Singer acknowledges this in the annotated screenplay being released next week just before the film.
We take some license here. The speed at which everything moves to the cabin walls is heightened. The speed at which Earth moves through the windows is heightened too. The lights shorting out is a fiction. But this is all to put the viewer in the cockpit, to convey how intense and dangerous this situation was.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-02-2018 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Pacific Theatres' Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood is one of the more unique venues that will be showing "First Man."

space1
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posted 10-03-2018 07:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What frustrates me is they had most of what they needed to show it correctly, but didn't use it. At the top of the list is the release from the Agena. With his right hand Gosling dramatically throws the attitude controller forward. But he needed to dramatically pull the translation controller backward with his left hand. And Abbott (playing David Scott) needed to push a button to his right to release the Agena. With concern over remaining propellant, they needed to look at the gauge on the left panel, not the center panel.

Anyway, I am impressed with the technical callouts in this sequence. And I can forgive the use of the computer keypad to send a command to the Agena, since they could not fit a proper Agena panel into the prop.

David C
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posted 10-03-2018 11:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by space1:
With his right hand Gosling dramatically throws the attitude controller forward. But he needed to dramatically pull the translation controller backward with his left hand.
This is the kind of thing I don't understand. The "poltergeist" stuff with lights blowing, objects flying about and spacecraft creaking makes sense. But correct control movements and dials are just as easy to get right as wrong. And the wrong version doesn’t add anything by my way of thinking.

ejectr
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posted 10-05-2018 01:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ejectr   Click Here to Email ejectr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You've got to remember, this movie was made for the general public, not just cS people that have the knowledge when something was right or exaggerated.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-05-2018 04:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the National Air and Space Museum:
The stars of "First Man" stopped by Air and Space yesterday for the premiere of the film. Neil Armstrong's sons, Mark and Rick, were here, and got a chance to catch-up with their on-screen family!

See more photos from the premiere.

Not shown in the photos, (the real) Joe Engle and his daughter Jeanie also attended the premiere, as did Jim Hansen and Chris Calle (with his daughter).

David C
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posted 10-06-2018 02:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ejectr:
You've got to remember, this movie was made for the general public, not just cS people that have the knowledge when something was right or exaggerated.

I think we all remember that. The point is that some exaggerations make sense in the context of trying to demonstrate the nature of a situation to the uninformed. Whereas the purpose of other deliberate inaccuracies seems unclear (at least to me).

FairfaxSpace
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posted 10-06-2018 01:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FairfaxSpace   Click Here to Email FairfaxSpace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My son and I attended the premiere of "First Man" at the National Air and Space Museum. It was a great evening. We watched the movie sitting right next to Mark and Rick Armstrong, which made it all the more special.

Afterwards we got a nice group shot with both of Neil's sons and with Ryan Gosling, who seemed to have Neil's demeanor down quite well (I heard Mark tell Ryan that very same thing during the after party).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-08-2018 04:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the American Space Museum in Titusville, Florida:
Join us for the 4:25 p.m. showing of "First Man" on Friday, October 12 at the Epic Theater XL in Titusville, Florida. Eight to 10 Grumman employees who actually worked on the Apollo 11 Lunar Module will be on hand for a Meet & Greet starting at 4 p.m. before the movie, then continuing after the movie until 7:30 p.m. Normal theater admission applies.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-08-2018 05:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Museum of Flight release
First Exhibit of First Man Movie Properties Opens Oct. 12

Museum hosts exclusive display of costumes and props from the new feature film

The Museum of Flight presents a special collection of costumes and properties used in the making of Universal Studio's blockbuster movie "First Man." Both the movie and the exhibit, Behind the Scenes of First Man, open Oct. 12.

The Museum of Flight has been associated with "First Man" filmmakers and distributor Universal Studios since production started in 2017. The partnership resulted in this premiere exhibition that includes costumes worn by actors Ryan Gosling (as Neil Armstrong), Claire Foy (as Janet Armstrong) and Corey Stoll (as Buzz Aldrin). The collection also includes models, ID badges and filmed commentaries with the actors.

Behind the Scenes of First Man runs through Thursday, December 20, 2018.

p51
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posted 10-08-2018 05:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Oddly, they're playing "First Man" at a local IMAX theater on Thursday night and I'm going there after work.

Ordered my ticket through Fandango several days ago and saw all the seats available at the time. Some are gone now on the site, but no sell out for me!

And yes, I confirmed elsewhere that they're really playing it that night.

I fully intend on wearing my "Still the Right Stuff" light blue Apollo jacket replica to the showing...

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-09-2018 04:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Regal Cinemas is running a free "First Man" mission patch promotion for its Thursday, Oct. 11 screenings.

schnappsicle
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posted 10-10-2018 06:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Having read the book and having lived through the mission, I wasn't intending on seeing it in the theater. I changed my mind after I received a free pass to last night's showing. I can't say I loved the movie. It was way too Hollywood for me, but I definitely loved how it took the book to the next level. For that alone, the movie was worth seeing, in spite of its many flaws.

On the way out, I heard a lot of people complain about how long and drawn out the movie was. To me, it was just the opposite. I can think of a billion things that weren't in the movie that probably should have been. Hopefully we can dig into that more at a later date. On a side note, the woman I was with said she hated to see the movie end.

I heard that when Jim Lovell thought about writing Lost Moon, he said he did so because it was a story that needed to be told. I think First Man also falls into that category.

p51
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posted 10-11-2018 04:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Regal Cinemas is running a free "First Man" mission patch promotion for its Thursday, Oct. 11 screenings.
GREAT! I'm already going to a Regal IMAX theater to see this in a few hours, I hope I'll get one of these patches!

Yes, I have my "Still the Right Stuff" Apollo jacket to wear into the theater as well...

oly
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posted 10-12-2018 03:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was lucky enough to have time to go an see this movie today, at the gold class cinema. We were the only two people in the theater (a midday screening, the later were sold out) so we were treated like royalty. I think people need to remove any preconceived expectations before they watch this movie and just let the film take them on an adventure.

I will not throw any spoilers out, This is a very good film and worth the wait. I am curious to find out what all the folks who voiced criticism back when Ryan Gosling was cast for this part what they think of his performance.

jimsz
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posted 10-12-2018 07:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jimsz   Click Here to Email jimsz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw the movie Thursday night and enjoyed it. I also decided to just watch it as a movie and not anything more. There was a lot I wish they covered but it is a enjoyable couple hours and one of the few films that are worth watching at a cinema.

p51
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posted 10-12-2018 10:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw it last night on an IMAX screen. Thanks for the heads up on the movie patches, as they didn't have them out and I asked the manager. He went into his office and came out with a stack of them, saying he'd had no idea. I doubt many (of any) other people in the theater with me got one or even knew about it.

[img]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1924/44359399765_b31ff709ee.jpg[/img]

I really liked the movie but I can't tell if my wife will like it or hate it. It's a coin flip, I think, for what her reaction will be when I take her to see it later.

I really liked the movie. Some might question the long scenes with nothing going on yet skipping through history, but I loved the scene where they were taking the elevator to Apollo 11, it was the best representation of that which I've ever seen other than the original film. The entire Apollo 11 portion is worth seeing the movie even if the rest had been no good (which it isn't).

A few observations:

It skips through history. I think the public will like they got to the "important parts," but space fans might not like that.

I wasn't too keen on how they showed the crews as bystanders and scared of everything that was happening when in the capsules. I just don't see that happening in real life.

Why was everything so dirty and used looking? The Gemini scenes especially, it looked like they'd re-used that capsule a dozen times before that mission for how the interior looked.

The rotation rate on the Gemini 8 incident seemed way higher than in real life.

The landing speed on Apollo 11 was way faster (though I loved the visuals and the music for that portion) as well.

I refuse to accept that Janet Armstrong chewed out Deke like in the movie.

That 1990s helmet/O2 mask when Armstrong crashes the LLRV... Ugh!

As for that crash, where the heck is the field at Ellington? The movie shows nothing but a grass, and the crash was right next to concrete.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-12-2018 10:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd suggest getting the Annotated Screenplay, as it explains many of your concerns.

For example, Janet did indeed go to MCC and though it is not known who she talked to during the emergency, she "did talk to Deke later about the situation and told him (in no uncertain terms) not to keep her in the dark again." Per Jim Hansen, based on his interviews with Janet:

She said something to the effect of, "If there is a problem, I want to be in Mission Control and if you don't let me in, I will blast it to the world!"
The film merges these two encounters, her complaining to MCC and her later confronting Deke, for the sake of time. Per Josh Singer:
Frank Hughes got to know Janet around this time. After seeing the movie, he said that Claire was terrific — but that she maybe wasn't angry enough in this scene!

SpaceAngel
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posted 10-12-2018 02:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAngel   Click Here to Email SpaceAngel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just saw "First Man" and it was AMAZING and two thumbs up for this movie. What are the odds of this film going to the Academy Awards in 2019?

space1
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posted 10-12-2018 03:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw the film last night. It does a really good job of showing the astronaut family life — just like everyone else's, except dad has an unusual job. A lot of extreme facial closeups. Gosling's acting defines superb. Good coverage of Armstrong's piloting and astronaut career, the ups and downs. A bit too much vibration throughout.

Wow, look at that Gemini panel!

dsenechal
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posted 10-12-2018 04:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dsenechal   Click Here to Email dsenechal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Underwhelmed. There were some high points, to be sure, and I'll go see it again; but I was somewhat disappointed. The numerous, and sometimes obvious, technical errors really detracted from what might have otherwise been a pretty good movie. I do think that Ryan Gosling did a fine job of depicting Neil Armstrong, especially in the latter half of the movie.

tedc
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posted 10-12-2018 09:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tedc   Click Here to Email tedc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Any thoughts on seeing the movie in IMAX vs. regular?

Go4Launch
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posted 10-13-2018 10:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Go4Launch   Click Here to Email Go4Launch     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is worth the price of admission. As others have said, some of the POV scenes are striking. Gosling is okay but not sure I would have cast him. Yes it plods in places but balanced by some edge-of-your seat stuff. But gosh I sure don't remember Quindar tones during Gemini!

Tyler_Peterson
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posted 10-13-2018 11:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tyler_Peterson   Click Here to Email Tyler_Peterson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw the movie last night at an IMAX here in Colorado and am really glad that I did. I will include a spoiler warning for those who have not seen it.

I liked what Damien Chazelle did in emphasizing the loss of Karen Armstrong, though this did get me to thinking what Jim Hansen wrote about this in the book. On page 528 he wrot:

Another loved one that Neil apparently did not remember by taking anything of hers to the Moon was his daughter Karen. What could have made the first Moon landing more meaningful "for all mankind" than a father honoring the cherished memory of his beloved little girl, by taking a picture of the child, dead now over seven years (she would have been a ten-year-old), one of her toys, an article of her clothing, a lock of hair?

... What if Neil had done something like that but had never told anyone about it, not even Janet, because it was of such an intensely personal nature?

... Among those who feel so are Neil's sister June, who knows her brother as well as anyone. "Did he take something of Karen with him to the Moon?" ran June's rhetorical question. "Oh, I dearly hope so."

Having refreshed my memory on what Hansen wrote in the book the movie is based on, I wonder what Chazelle's thought process was in depicting the lunar surface scenes the way he did. I imagine the annotated screenplay contains some details about this and I look forward to reading that.

David C
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posted 10-13-2018 02:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I too saw it in IMAX last night, I'd like to echo most of what you've all said.

Yes it's worth seeing, and undoubtedly I'll watch it several more times over the years. I'm not going to nit pick it yet (though there were a lot more discrepancies than I expected). It will be interesting to read the annotated screenplay when my pre-order eventually arrives.

It was made by people that, going in initially knew little of the subject (by their own admissions). I think the target audience is at similar level. I don't know if it succeeded for them. I sure hope it hooks people into finding out more about what really happened.

I thought Gosling did a great job. Foy was good too. However it did seem a bit "passive aggressive" between them at times. Perhaps that was tainted by later events, but I don't know, I wasn't there.

Portions of the flying scenes were too noisy (and the wrong noises, and at times the back-ground music wasn't), too much vibration, and excessive rotation rates. I think audiences may have struggled to follow what was meant to be happening through the blurred cacophony, but maybe they weren't meant to. Maybe they were just meant to be scared and impressed.

Apollo 11 was taken at the gallop. The climb down the ladder was well handled, but the rest of the mission could have done with another ten or so minutes of screen time. I think the final surface scene was a big mistake, but maybe the academy will love it.

A visually striking movie, but less close ups of a vibrating Gosling and a better look at what he was meant to be seeing would have been good. I didn't agree with some of the "historical interpretation." There were many errors of fact, mostly inconsequential to the main thrust of the story. It was way too short for me!

But I think for me the main problem is its melancholy atmosphere. Before leaving Edwards, Foy talks about it being an adventure. What follows seems more like an ordeal. Armstrong is portrayed as happy on occasion; playing with Rick and Mark, or having rendezvoused with the 8 Agena. But I didn't get the impression of a guy who loved his work (which he did). Instead we see him being tossed from one horrendous brush with death to another, throwing up in training and friends dying. These guys didn't go through this because they were masochists, there were plenty of upsides! Glimpses of why he wanted to do it at all were sparse and fleeting. Perhaps that's taken as understood instinctively by the audience. It's spaceflight right? Must be great!

MCroft04
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posted 10-13-2018 03:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just saw the movie and loved it. Sure there were some "Hollywood" moments (e.g. Earth would not have been low on the lunar horizon), but the objective of the movie seems to be to depict what the first man (and family) was like. And if Mark and Rick say the director did a good job, you can't get any better than that.

When Robert's name scrolled across the big screen (at the end), everyone in the theater stood and applauded. Of course Kathy and I were the only two people left, but still it was quite an honor!

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-13-2018 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
An honor indeed! Thanks Mel.

I am, of course, quite proud to see my name up there, but I am equally happy to see other members of the cS community similarly recognized, including Chris Calle, John Fongheiser, Dennis Gilliam, Rick Houston, Ryan Nagata and Roger Weiss.

Ted
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posted 10-14-2018 05:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ted     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Disappointing. The acting was great, story was great, visuals were great, but....

That shaky handheld quick zoom-in style of filming really started to grate after a while. Why did it have to be so jerky? That was my biggest problem with the film. Trendy cinematography?

Also, as some others have mentioned, the film is too noisy during the "action" sequences, and I couldn't really hear what was being said. The soundtrack itself wasn't great — the music during the lunar descent for example was inappropriate and failed to build up any tension at all.

Gosling and Foy were superb. The chap who plays Buzz Aldrin physically looked to me more like Bernard Bresslaw from the carry on films than Buzz. I was very pleased to see the Ed White character getting lots of screen time.

Some of the visuals were absolutely brilliant — the suiting up room, the moon's surface itself — although Neil's spacesuit did look a little under inflated as he stood out there!

I'm glad the film is out and I really do hope it's a box office smash and the public at large enjoy it. Neil was an extraordinary man and anything that promotes the space age and brings it into popular focus I'm all for. I just wish, for me personally, the film had been made with a bit more panache.

Ken Havekotte
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posted 10-14-2018 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Overall, the film was good, but I am somewhat bothered by a few impressions it may leave to the general public.

First off, the acting was great and I especially loved the character of Neil's wife, Janet, and her performance by Claire Foy was fabulous, in my opinion, as with Armstrong himself played by Ryan Gosling.

I loved how the film started out with the audience being with Neil inside one of his
X-15 rocketplane flight experiences and with some of the difficulties of Gemini
8's emergency in space while docked to the Agena.

There were, though, several scenes that were devoted to the anti-space movement in the country, such as the political fallout concerns, all the public protesting, too much money being spent by NASA and not feeding the poor, and even the lost of astronaut lives...which in fact were all true issues during that period.

But in retrospect, there was nothing that I saw in the production that shed a more positive influence nor support of our nation's manned spaceflight program and benefits, unless I am missing something and/or making too much of a film from a critical or negative standpoint, which I do understand was not the movie's purpose.

From a technical or space geek angle, it seemed to be (and perhaps I am making too much of it), that crew assignments were of no basic formula and with no indication whatsoever of whom would be assigned to what flight, etc, though I did see a mention of a backup Gemini crew being assigned to another future Gemini flight.

As the movie seems to indicate with Neil Armstrong; one day you come to work and out of the blue you find out from Deke that you will be commanding the first lunar landing mission!

Even before NASA made that official announcement, Armstrong and Aldrin pretty much knew that Apollo 11 would be the first landing mission if 10 had achieved all of its major flight goals, and with them possibly becoming the first moon men.

In watching the IMAX version film on Oct. 11th, a friend next to me asked, "Was Armstrong surprised to hear of the first moon landing command, I didn't know that he wasn't or didn't seem to know," as the film version of it seemed to imply, was how I took it as well.

As backup for Apollo 8, in most cases, you skip two flights ahead and that same crew would fly the third mission. There really was no magical formula in deciding overall flight crew assignments, even though there were some changes along the way with Apollos 13, 14, and 17 and if a prior flown Apollo astronaut didn't want to fly in the program again or wasn't reassigned for another reason.

As in most space movies that I see, and it's just me and nothing more, I wish the public could see how busy it gets inside a real white room with all the necessary ground support equipment involved when a crew enters their spacecraft, and there are so many space workers there, not just one or two people with an empty room around the vehicle.

But as to the spacecrafts themselves represented in the movie, I did see, however, a very good replica of Gemini's interior along with 11's command and lunar modules, though.

Just a few thoughts, but overall, I did enjoy the movie experience. But I know a lot of cS readers will tell me that I am too serious in my review of First Man, but I did in fact enjoy it.

And a big thanks to our own Robert Pearlman for his support contribution in helping to make the film possible along with a few others of the cS community.

Oh, and one more thing, it was great seeing Chris Calle represent his Dad portrayed in the motion picture on Apollo 11's launch day morning inside the MSOB!

Grounded!
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posted 10-14-2018 06:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Grounded!   Click Here to Email Grounded!     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just got back from seeing this film at the local movie house. I did enjoy it and have little to add to the above posts. Just a couple of comments though. In my opinion, this film may not generate much excitement to the younger viewer who may consider it ancient history. Also, could have cut Buzz some slack.

lspooz
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Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 10-14-2018 09:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lspooz   Click Here to Email lspooz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jeff Qualls (Space Hipster, and JPL and OSIRIS-REx Ambassador) assembled and hosted a great panel discussion after an IMAX screening of "First Man" in Raleigh, North Carolina (well worth the 180 mile/290 km roundtrip).

As noted above, it is a wonderful character study, not another documentary of the early space program. "First Man" was intensely moving and intimate, leading the viewer through periods of goosebumps, elation, and a few tears while providing a riveting portrait of a very reserved man, and portraying true grace under pressure.

The discussion panel featured four dedicated space experts:

  • Rick Houston - writer whose nine books include "Wheels Stop!" and "Go, Flight" (which became the movie "Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo"), who assisted with the film. Rick noted the 35 hours spent on the set were well worth it for his (one-second?) cameo as a Gemini mission controller, and he really enjoyed watching a talented director at work. Chazelle's dedication to detail and obvious labor of love paid off, particularly in Rick's comment that Neil Armstrong's sons had given the movie their overall approval.

  • Mike Neese - Morehead Planetarium (working to complete his book on the history of the Morehead Planetarium). Mike noted that even during Apollo, the Morehead was a world-class facility, which won out over facilities in Houston, California and the northeast for the rights to train our astronauts. Of course, the astronaut who spent the most time training there (Neil, natch) was one of several whose celestial navigation skills eventually exceeded those of the teachers, who were used to knowing the constellations with a fixed coordinate like the North Star.

  • Martha Lemasters, writer of "The Step: One Woman's Journey to Finding Her Own Happiness and Success During the Apollo Space Program," her memoir detailing her many NASA years. Several times during reminiscing of anecdotes and incredible bonds between by dedicated Apollo workers. Her book is being made into feature film as well, although one comment during the panel likened sending your book to Hollywood as being like sending your child to Hitler Kindergarten.

  • Richard McColman, another Morehead Planetarium expert (whose current office was the setting of an old photo with Neil Armstrong and Elliot See meeting with an instructor). Truly an incredible planetarium (which I first got to see at North Carolina Science Days in April 2016 when it hosted the return of Jim Lovell to an old training ground) - incredible architecture, in a nationally-known university setting. Wow!
The panel was well attended (about two thirds of chairs filled) and went slightly overtime with questions. Unfortunately we missed the subsequent dinner with panelists and true fans (which surely had more colorful stories in a more intimate setting).

oly
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Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 10-14-2018 09:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think some subject knowledge is needed prior to seeing this film. without knowing the back story, the audience could be left wondering what this was all about.

Having some prior subject knowledge, I found the movie enjoyable.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-14-2018 09:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Tonight was my third time seeing "First Man" (in its completed form). Each time it gets better.

Before I share my thoughts on the film, let me backtrack a bit and explain how it was my name ended up in the credits.

In April 2015, I met Josh Singer for dinner while he was in Houston doing some early research for his first script treatment of Jim Hansen's book. Jim had referred Josh to me and we had a great time chatting about space history. Over fajitas, I answered some of Josh's questions and offered to be of help any way I could as the movie came together.

Flash forward to 2017 and Jim began reaching out to me with questions about Gemini and Apollo history. What became an occasional query grew to be an almost daily occurrence and the questions began coming from Josh and some of the others working on the film, too. It was a fun challenge and as I later told them, it was almost like taking a master's class on Gemini and Apollo hardware. Some of the questions they were asking I can't imagine have ever been asked before (e.g. What model torque wrench was used to close the Gemini hatch and where can we get one?)

Above: On the "First Man" set in February 2018 with Al Worden and Jim Hansen.

In February 2018, I had the chance to visit the set in Atlanta. What began as a one-day press visit stretched into two days assisting alongside Jim and Al Worden answering technical questions on what were the final two days of principal photography. I'm going to hold back some details about these days for now for something special that might still happen, so please stay tuned, but one thing I will share is that Ryan Gosling had prepared a special gift for the cast and crew.

As those who have seen the film know, there's a scene where Ryan (as Neil) wears a replica of the splashdown cap that Neil received aboard the USS Hornet (in quarantine). Ryan made up caps for Corey Stoll and Lukas Haas, too, with their respective crew names (Aldrin, Collins) on them and then for everyone else had Armstrong caps made with "First Man" on the back.

After that, I continued to hear from Damien, Josh and Jim as questions came up, and then in July, I was invited out to Los Angeles to attend a test screening of the film and then spend a day at Universal Studios sitting with Josh, going through the film scene by scene and offering my notes. There are a few scenes in the completed film that I can point to (with some pride) where changes were made based on my feedback.

To be clear, even with all of that, my contributions were minor compared to others. I don't want to give the wrong impression, my role was small, but I am very grateful for the opportunity!

Above: At the Apollo/Saturn V Center with Ryan Gosling and Damien Chazelle.

As for the film, when I met with Josh at Universal this past summer, I told him that I thought it was just behind "Apollo 13" in terms of accuracy and overall enjoyment. After the edits, after the visual effects were complete and the film was in its final form, I am now of the opinion that it has surpassed "Apollo 13" by both measures. My own participation aside, I think "First Man" is the most accurate portrayal of spaceflight history put to film to date.

Are there (some minor) things I would have done differently if I was in Damien's position? Yes. But this is his vision, based on Jim's research and Josh's writing, and I respect that. I think he has redefined the genre when it comes to how astronauts are portrayed and how spaceflight is approached.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-14-2018 10:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As a postscript, I'll share a few souvenirs I picked up from the production: a set of film canisters used on set and the Snoopy cap worn by Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin, the latter courtesy Ryan Nagata. I also had several of the cast and crew sign a copy of the "Annotated Script."


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