Anticipation can only be either met or missed. It exists for the hopeful, but the hopeful wish for expectation. Armstrong, highly anticipated biography, has reason to be anticipated, but those hoping for a true look at this much sought-after and decent man will have had their expectation missed.
Highly anticipated by space nuts and aviation enthusiasts, Armstrong is, for certain, a fine presentation of his words (copies from his verbal interviews and for some reason narrated by Harrison Ford) combined with home video, historical footage and interviews from close family (with his wife the exception) and some NASA royalty, such as Chris Kraft and Frank Borman.
It manages to deliver Neil's biography in a warm, close manner, with limited yet revealing statements which give some insight into his personality, abilities, passions and qualities. Truly, this is a revealing that many should find appreciable to say the least.
The credits are followed by a beautiful arrangement of small clips of Neil wearing his classic smile as the family man he was, the astronaut, and the friend so many found him to be - truly a relatable man where even those who hadn't met found reason to admire him. The film leaves one feeling he could really have been anyone's friend, and that is perhaps a legacy he would be proud of.
Interestingly, Neil's sometime spoken about dream he could voluntarily create of flying around in clouds is referenced to in a closing song written by his family. However, in this final climax of the film we find a leash to restrain a fully comprehensive portrayal of Neil.
To criticise a film is often difficult to do in the age of the easily offended throwing criticism straight back like a hot potato, however at times it must be said regardless of what many think. The expectation of Armstrong, in this critic's opinion, has been missed by a large degree.
Neil, never one for sensational publicity despite his dignified ability to handle it, may not have been as enthusiastic about the release of Armstrong as one may think. It is, and quite plainly so, an effort of his sons and family to glorify their high achieving father whilst trying to obtain their place in the spotlight. The facts are that this isn't truly a documentary - a reading of the end credits shows that his family have attempted to show Neil the way they desired, and while this is a large claim to make, the evidence shows.
Missing from this film were his wife, Carol, a woman who has no problem criticising the behaviour of some of Neil's family since Neil's death in 2012, since they sued the hospital for a large amount of money, a decision she refused to cooperate with and something she feels Neil would not have endorsed, not to mention their auctioning off his personal possessions when she makes clear he wouldn't even sign an autograph for money and criticised those who sold what he had given them. Clearly, her opinion and words would have contributed to a fuller presentation of his life and a revealing more accurate than the actual film delivers, dictated by Mark and Rick.
If there is any other regret, it is that a high end celebrity like Harrison Ford copies the already recorded audio of Neil from a much more open interview before his passing. With Neil's actual words in his own voice, it could have been a fantastic film, delivered like a gentle grandfather telling stories of a life of flight.
The end result is anticipation not met. It is a limited perspective and almost purely profit driven film for his sons as they try to capitalise in his hero status.
Armstrong is a film about a man of whom it could be said was a friend of all, humble and a reluctant hero, often highlighting he was simply standing on the shoulders of giants.
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