Ryan Goslinghas been a mainstay of both bigger Hollywood blockbusters and smaller, more unique movies for two decades now. AfterThe Notebook(2004), the actor would bounce between these two kinds of movies, with certain films punctuating what is shaping up to be an impressively varied career. He starred in bothBlue Valentine(2010), a devastating drama that tugs on the heartstrings, andThe Gray Man(2022), a massive Netflix blockbuster action movie.
Some of Gosling’s films, however, seem to walk this line and sit in both the auteur camp and the blockbuster camp.Blade Runner 2049(2017), for example, is a massive sci-fi spectacle of a film, but it also features some complex themes. The same general idea applies to thecritically-acclaimedBarbie(2023), in which he played Ken, but also for his Damien Chazelle collaborations, which have both been critically-acclaimed.
First Man’s Realism Impresses A Former Astronaut
Ryan Gosling’s Space Movie Earns A Perfect Grade For Two Key Sequences
A real-life astronaut awardsFirst Mana perfect grade for its realism. Released in 2018,Chazelle’s historical drama chronicles the life of astronaut Neil Armstrongand the space mission that ended with him becoming the first man to walk on the moon. Gosling takes on the role of Armstrong in the movie, which features both stunning space sequences and moments heavy on emotion, especially as is seen in theFirst Manending. The film was nominated for four Oscars, ultimately winning for Best Visual Effects.
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In a recent video forInsider, formerNASA astronaut Nicole Stott analyzes select scenes fromFirst Man, including a training scene and the launch of the Saturn V rocket. According to Stott, both scenes are accurate to what astronauts, including Armstrong, would have gone through at the time. For the training scene, which features Gosling strapped into a rotating machine and going unconscious, Stott expands on the purpose of what she reveals is a Multi-Axis Trainer:
“The machine he’s training on is called a Multi-Axis Trainer, and by that, it means that it can kind of spin you in all the different directions at one time. And again, I’m so happy that, as current day astronauts, we don’t do that same thing. And it was meant to kind of get your head boggled a little bit, and have you having to respond to the load and the forces that were on you.”
The launch of the Saturn V also features a strong degree of realism, particularly in terms of its depiction of the shaking and shuddering effects on the astronauts inside the shuttle. Stott also breaks down the different stages of the launch seen in the movie, ultimately awardingFirst Mana perfect grade of 10 out of 10. Check out the rest of her analysis below or watch the video (relevant section begins at 17:46):
“There’s just something reminiscent of it, to be able to watch somebody else’s launch, even on a different spaceship, to reflect on what it felt to launch in the spacecraft you fly on. I have to say, though, I think the shaking these guys had on the Saturn V was a lot more intense than what we had on the Space Shuttle, which I still felt like I was Jell-O inside.
“The Saturn V was a ginormous spacecraft. You’ve got this big, long rocket, right? You’ve got what we call the first stage, you know those big engines that were lighting at the launchpad to get the vehicle off the pad and moving in the direction that it’s supposed to be going. Those engines run out and that part of the vehicle separates. And now you start these other engines on the back of it. It goes on and on through these different stages. The ideal is that it burns up and there’s no debris caused from it.
“I would rate these clips in First Man a 10 [out of 10]. I love that in this film they took advantage of the real footage that exists, andthey only improvised or went dramatic if they needed to. Even in the places where they were bringing it up to a higher definition, it still felt like it would have been of that time.”
What First Man’s Realism Means For The Movie’s Reputation
Gosling’s Second Chazelle Collaboration Was A Mixed Bag
First Manwas well-received critically at the time of its release and currently boasts a strong 87% critics' score onRotten Tomatoes. The audience score is lower at 68%, and this more lukewarm response is reflected in the movie’s box office performance. Made on an estimated budget of $59 million,First Mangrossed only $105.7 million worldwide, meaning it likely did not break even.
La La Land, by contrast, was a major box office success, grossing $447 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
That being said,First Manremains a fascinatingChazelle movie, and one that has seemingly grown in popularity since its release. The film was widely praised in reviews for its breathtaking visuals, strong performances, and moving story, andthe fact that it’s also realistic in terms of its astronaut scenes means it has another element worth celebrating. ThoughFirst Manmay not be the most widely-seen of Gosling’s films, Armstrong remains one of his more interesting roles, and the film’s accuracy only further cements its place in his filmography.
First Man
Cast
First Man is a biographical drama directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling as astronaut Neil Armstrong. The film chronicles Armstrong’s life leading up to the historic Apollo 11 mission, emphasizing the personal and professional challenges he faced. Claire Foy co-stars as Armstrong’s wife, Janet, highlighting the emotional struggles behind the mission. The film offers a detailed portrayal of one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
