248. Armstrong; movie review

ARMSTRONG
Cert PG
100 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild violence, threat

I haven't seen all of the programmes and films to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XI mission but I am sated now.
Fortunately, from First Man onwards, all that I have watched have had a hallmark of high quality such a historic even merits and this documentary biopic of Neil Armstrong is no exception.
This is a detailed chronology of the first man on the moon, produced by his grand-daughter and with contributions from his sons and ex-wife.
There are also narratives from several of the leaders of the space mission on the ground and from Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong's fellow astronaut on Apollo XI.
Armstrong's own words are voiced by Harrison Ford.
Interestingly, neither his second wife Carol nor Buzz Aldrin is featured.
Regardless, David Fairhead's movie is the most intimate portrait of a man who was uncomfortable with the fame the moon landing brought.
It traces his life back to the beginnings, goes through his college days when he met his first wife Janet, his career as a pilot.
It delves into the early family days and the impact of the death of his young daughter, Karen.
And then it moves on to the space programme and his selection to the commander of Apollo XI.
It reflects on how death was an occupational hazard of the programme, how colleagues were killed and how Armstrong, through a clear mind under pressure, managed to avoid it.
Of course, it touches on the most glorious mission itself and the honour Armstrong felt as well as the tension on the ground.
But its most enlightening element is what happened to Armstrong after he had been the first man to set foot on the moon.
These were the days before people craved celebrity. He saw it as a duty and didn't enjoy the spotlight.
Indeed, it appears, in retrospect, that the status of the astronauts after they came back to earth had not been fully thought through.
As his ex-wife says life would never be the same again and among all of his duties she became lowest on the priority list.
It seems Armstrong became more at one with himself and his role in history later in life and, having watched much about him in recent weeks, that pleased me.
Heroes can be tainted but Armstrong was a quiet, dignified man whose flaw was that he didn't have time for everything.
He deserves to be remembered in the highest regard.


Reasons to watch: Another superb historic insight
Reasons to avoid: Arguably Apollo overkill

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? Neil Armstrong threatened to sue a barbershop owner who sold the his hair trimmings for $3,000. The buyer, John Reznikoff was a collector listed by the Guinness World Records as having the largest collection of hair from historical celebrities, including Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein and Napoleon.

The final word. Mark Armstrong: "I definitely did not understand the danger. I was intentionally sheltered from it by my parents, as a six-year-old, but also it just didn’t occur to me that things could go horribly wrong and that dad might not come home." Hotcorn

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