Universal Pictures has released a third trailer for First Man, and it’s the best one yet. This is the new film from Best Director Oscar winner Damien Chazelle, but it’s markedly different than his breakout features Whiplash and La La Land. This film tells the story of the journey to go to the moon through the eyes of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling), but Chazelle and screenwriter Josh Singer (The Post) frame the tale as one of great courage and loss. Indeed, the space program was incredibly dangerous, and Armstrong in particular was surrounded by death all the way up through his groundbreaking achievement. The film puts the viewers in the cockpit right alongside Armstrong and his fellow astronauts, and the sense of danger is palpable.

This trailer doesn’t showcase any dialogue from the film, and instead is a montage of scenes set to President John F. Kennedy’s famous “We choose to go to the moon…” speech. It’s chilling, as Kennedy notes the difficulties that America will face in its mission while we see Chazelle’s gorgeous, haunting images flash across the screen.

I caught First Man at TIFF and it’s very good, although for me it never hit the highs that La La Land did. Cinematographer Linus Sandren (La La Land) opts for a naturalistic, handheld, very intimate take on the visuals, and the result is something incredibly visceral—as you can see in this trailer. It’s kind of like if Terrence Malick directed a space epic. And yes, the American flag is seen throughout the film, including on the moon.

Check out the new First Man trailer below, click here to read Matt’s review from TIFF, and click here to watch Steve's interview with Chazelle and Sandgren from TIFF. The film also stars Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Patrick Fugit, Corey Stoll, and Kyle Chandler. First Man opens in traditional theaters and in IMAX on October 12th.

Here’s the official synopsis for First Man:

On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral and intimate account told from Armstrong’s perspective, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the cost—on Armstrong, his family, his colleagues and the nation itself—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

 

Written by Academy Award® winner Josh Singer (Spotlight, The Post), the epic drama of leading under the pressure of grace and tragedy is produced by Wyck Godfrey & Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars) through their Temple Hill Entertainment banner, alongside Isaac Klausner (Love, Simon) and Chazelle. Steven Spielberg, Adam Merims and Singer executive produce, while DreamWorks Pictures co-finances the film.

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Image via Universal Pictures
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Image via Universal Pictures

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