In the span of just three scores, composer Justin Hurwitz has taken tremendous steps forward covering new ground in his musical career. The soundtrack to Damien Chazelle‘s First Man is tailored specifically to the film, but not necessarily the literal narrative beats. The film follows Neil Armstrong, and as such, it’s less about NASA as an organization and more about the titular “first man.” We get to witness all the mental, physical, psychological and spiritual tests that lead to his historic steps on the Moon. The film opens on a period in Armstong’s life that doesn’t really define or explain his demeanor and drive, but it sure focuses it. Some of the…
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G-S-T Review…Whiplash
The film industry is a funny animal. In the name of mainstream entertainment, whether we want it or not, we are constantly bombarded with iterations of a story we saw only a decade earlier, marginally worthless reboots (a filmic term that has only been in existence in the last ten years) and a slew of unflattering, unremarkable sequels. With all the derivative drivel out there, it is easy to lose hope. But once in a great while we get to see something new and exciting that really raises the bar for the industry, and also makes for an exceptional time at the cinema. Whiplash, in many ways, is a horror story reworked to…
