★★★½

Damien Chazelle's return with First Man takes the story of one of the most historic figures in America and puts his own beautiful spin on it. The visual style, sound design, and overall sensory experience created for the audience is what keeps this film afloat. Neil Armstrong is made into a complex and reserved character by Ryan Gosling's moving portrayal, along with some other great performances from Claire Foy and the rest of the supporting cast that really helped to anchor it. As is the case with many historical films, the plot itself is a bit lacklustre, and the film's visual wonders easily compensate for this (although it means you might also find yourself a bit restless by the end of its 2 hours-plus runtime). The opening scene in particular is quite captivating, throwing the viewer right into the realm of the unknown - creating a feeling that will linger until the end credits roll.