Fly Me To The Moon

The 1960s gave birth to the modern world, and nothing was more emblematic than the Apollo 11 mission landing a man on the moon for the first time. It capped an extraordinary decade that saw tumultuous change both politically and socially. Anything was now possible in the white heat of new technology. Fly me to the Moon perfectly captures the mood and spirit of a unique era.

NASA is slowly cranking up to the launch of Apollo 11 in July 1969. Flight director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) is frantically fighting fires, but still haunted by the memory of three astronauts who perished when Apollo 1 was being tested. Slippery government agent Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) must sell the mission to a sceptical American public. The project depends on adequate funding to strengthen a shoestring budget. So Berkus turns to Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), a marketing whizz kid with a dubious past. She soon sweeps through the NASA geek pool and puts the mission on everyone’s lips. However, Kelly and Cole clash on organisation and methods as lift-off approaches.

Scarlett Johansson steals the film with a smart and sassy portrayal of Kelly Jones. Styled very much like Marilyn Monroe she looks amazing as the camera instantly falls in love with her. Channing Tatum is essentially the straight man; the earnest lantern jawed all-American boy drawn to Kelly’s charms. Woody Harrelson delivers a useful cameo as the duplicitous Moe Berkus and adds to the storyline’s comedic value. The film itself builds on the established facts of Apollo 11 but also offers a nifty line in the ‘what if’ scenario. The political dimensions are well documented as local dignitaries are schmoozed to the point of distraction. One or two conspiracy theories are aired to great effect and mix nicely with the truth. A brilliant soundtrack complements a visual palette of colours to create a handsome looking film.

In retrospect the space race was really about getting to the moon first. It was the Americans and not the Russians who made it and secured bragging rights for generations to come. But the film also shows what a remarkable achievement the moon landings were. To perch three men on the end of a glorified firework, and get them to the moon and back without a scratch was a stroke of genius. Amidst the froth their courage and ingenuity still shines through.