For All Mankind

Starring: Jim Lovell, Russel Schweickart, Eugene Cernan, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, Charles Conrad, Richard Gordon, Alan Bean, Jack Swigert, Stuart Roosa, Kenneth Mattingly
Directed by: Al Reinert
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Documentary
1989

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Documentary chronicling the American astronauts and their journey to land on the moon.

Review:

Tim: For All Mankind is a beautiful documentary that really brings to life the American space program's effort to put a man on the moon and return him safely home. I understand that director Al Reinert went through 6 million feet of film and 80 hours of interviews with astronauts to put this film together. His efforts paid off, as this is a striking, intimate look at one of the greatest achievements in human history.

The documentary is fascinating because it shows so much footage that the average person hasn't seen. As much as the lunar landing has always fascinated me, I'd never see much of the footage contained in this film- and it was a wonderful revelation to see it. Some footage is grainy, as you might expect, but others are so crystal clear that it is almost stunning. I don't understand how this was done, but I appreciated it. Watching this film, you will appreciate the beauty of the Earth and the Moon like you never have before. This film sparks the imagination and gives us a sense of pride in the accomplishments of our fellow man.

As much as I enjoyed this film, I have to admit that it isn't perfect. I don't understand why the film didn't seem to follow a clear chronological order. We never see the narrators, so we don't know who is talking. Reinert pulled clips from many Apollo missions, so it sometimes felt a bit misleading, not knowing who was saying what. I also didn't understand the structure of the film. Was all the footage of the Apollo landing on the moon? I don't believe so, but I don't know which missions, or why that footage was shown here. The best thing to do is just sit back and try to take it all in, as a beautiful mosaic that explains the American space program. I just wish there was a little more clarity around exactly what we were watching. I also understand there was one scene that wasn't actual footage, but was instead doctored to fit the narrative. I don't particularly like this, as it makes you question what else wasn't exactly real. I wish Reinert would have avoided this.

These small missteps aside, this is still a powerful and intimate look at American astronauts and their incredible, world-altering accomplishment. This film does spark our imaginations- not only to what we've done, but what we as a race are capable of doing. I recommend this movie strongly, because it is nice to recall the better parts of humanity, and to remind us to always explore- that is part of what makes us human. Reinert reminds of all this with this stunning, unforgettable documentary.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Right Stuff, Apollo 13, A Land Called Texas, Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt