Nostalgic look at growing up during the Space Race / Cold War
This movie was so incredibly nostalgic for me. Although I was one year old when this movie took place, I moved to Houston in 1974 and every single thing was perfectly described. Despite the location, I think any American that grew up during the Space Race / Cold War will find this movie relatable. Like, we all knew it was stupid to hide under a desk during a nuclear attack.
My childhood tracked closer to Boyhood, or Girlhood in my case, but this movie was so spot on. Most of my friends came from huge Catholic or Jewish families, so the sibling interactions shown in this film are extremely relatable.
Like most kids of that era, I was completely absorbed by all things associated with space. Back then a kid could actually tour Mission Control. I did and it was awesome. And, yes, we really thought we'd be living in space by now and I'm still waiting for my Jetson's style plane/car. I'm looking at you, drone makers.
I love the fictional story weaved into what appears to be Linklater's love letter to his own childhood. My imagination also had me thinking I was walking across the moon's surface with Armstrong. Linklater must have kept incredible journals or have a perfect memory to capture such detail. I'm glad he captured this because I have neither and appreciate being able to just reference this movie to remember my own childhood.
Interestingly, Houston's complete embrace of being a modern city with the idea that "everything's gotta be new, pave over it all and cover it with astroturf or cement" has now given way to new modern thinking and much of that has or is being replaced with green space. Yet, somehow Linklater made me feel nostalgic for god awful astroturf. I'm already over it though.
My childhood tracked closer to Boyhood, or Girlhood in my case, but this movie was so spot on. Most of my friends came from huge Catholic or Jewish families, so the sibling interactions shown in this film are extremely relatable.
Like most kids of that era, I was completely absorbed by all things associated with space. Back then a kid could actually tour Mission Control. I did and it was awesome. And, yes, we really thought we'd be living in space by now and I'm still waiting for my Jetson's style plane/car. I'm looking at you, drone makers.
I love the fictional story weaved into what appears to be Linklater's love letter to his own childhood. My imagination also had me thinking I was walking across the moon's surface with Armstrong. Linklater must have kept incredible journals or have a perfect memory to capture such detail. I'm glad he captured this because I have neither and appreciate being able to just reference this movie to remember my own childhood.
Interestingly, Houston's complete embrace of being a modern city with the idea that "everything's gotta be new, pave over it all and cover it with astroturf or cement" has now given way to new modern thinking and much of that has or is being replaced with green space. Yet, somehow Linklater made me feel nostalgic for god awful astroturf. I'm already over it though.
- benston
- Jan 9, 2023