2018   Universal Pictures

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  21min

Biography ~ History ~ Drama ~ Adventure

Directed by:  Damien Chazelle

Starring:  Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Christopher Abbott, and Ciarán Hinds.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Ryan Gosling stars as Neil Armstrong in this first person account of his journey to become the first man on the moon. Claire Foy plays his wife Janet Armstrong. It is the riveting story of the raw early days of Space exploration and how he went from piloting the Air Force x-15, to joining the Nasa’ Gemini program, and ultimately Commanding The Apollo Mission 11 that landed on the moon.

Nasa’s goal of putting a man into space and landing on the moon took more than twenty years. It also cost the lives of dozens of pilots, crew men and astronauts in their race to beat the Soviets into space. It was a journey unknown and untested without a text or a guide book. The bravery of putting their lives at risk to accomplish the goal of being the first in space is well portrayed in the movie. As well as the effect it had on the families who were left at home to wonder if they would be coming back.

Ryan does an excellent job of portraying Neil Armstrong. You feel like you are right there with him along the journey. From being in the cockpit in the X-15 and bouncing off the atmosphere in one very bumpy ride, to being strapped into the Apollo 11 capsule on top of a rocket holding 203,400 gallons of Kerosene and another 318,000 gallons of liquid oxygen. Go ahead and light that up.

I had seen this when it first came out in 2018 and I just watched it again last night, new on Netflix. Absolutely riveting. What a journey that must have been to be the first man on the moon. Well done Neil Armstrong and Ryan Gosling!

I highly recommend this one. An important slice of our history brought to life for us to experience.

Excellent Ride!

Two thumbs Up!