First Man Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

Ups...

8. Ryan Gosling & Claire Foy's Phenomenal Performances

To the surprise of nobody, Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy give fantastic performances here.

Gosling in particular has a tricky role to play given that Armstrong was a famously cold and stoic man in real life, and the actor manages to convey that without making him seem flat or one-note. During the personal and professional turmoil throughout the film, Gosling gives a wonderfully understated performance that should net him an Oscar nod next year.

Claire Foy's role could easily have fallen into doting wife stereotypes, but that's promptly blown away by one magnificent scene in which Janet tells Neil to speak to his two sons about the possibility of him never returning home on the eve of his mission.

She spends a good deal of the third act off-screen as is a necessity, but Foy's compassionate work makes her an easy front-runner for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as of now.