| To mark the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, a documentary on the subject, Apollo 11, is getting a brief run in cinemas where it deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Entirely using archive footage the whole mission from pre-journey preparation to the safe return of the 3 astronauts is shown in remarkable detail. It is a completely immersive experience with the takeoff, where the whole cinema seemed to rumble with the power of the engines, a particular highlight. It is amazing just how much high quality footage there is from half a century ago. Not only of the spacecraft but also in the NASA command room with the rows of men in their short sleeved white shirts furiously doing complex math on pads, with the crew members lives dependent on them. Sensibly eschewing any temptation to use talking heads, director and editor Todd Douglas Miller, deftly weaves the footage into a thrilling narrative. He is helped by Matt Morton’s throbbing synth score recorded only on instruments available at the time that the events took place. It feels like Apollo 11 will be sure to be in the frame come awards season. Rating: 9 out of 10 |