Hidden Figures

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel that the phrase ‘based on true events’ works in a lot of ways against a movie. It’s such a broad and vague term that can cover all manner of sins. For many cases it would be brutally honest to just come forward and say “this is a loose adaptation of something that really happened”, at least then explanation for rewriting characters or glossing over specific integral events would be a little more accepted. The point of this little rant is to lead up to me saying that when I watch a movie that is based on true events, I still see it as a movie and will review it as a movie. With this in mind, let’s talk about Hidden Figures. 

This heart-warming gem directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Allison Schroeder and Melfi (based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly) tells the stories of three coloured women working in NASA who each seize opportunities to elevate themselves beyond the social confines of black and white. Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) puts her incredible mathematical mind to the test to create the math that would safely put astronaut John Glenn into orbit and return him home, Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) takes it upon herself to program the new IBM computer that would otherwise put her and her team out of jobs, and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) fights to become NASA’s first female, coloured engineer. As Russia inches further in front of America in the Space Race, there’s not a lot of time for these women to do the math and change the world at the same time. 

The beauty of this movie is in its balance. The injustices of segregation, racism, and sexism are all prominent, but what I really loved about it is that these weren’t jammed down the throats of the audience and it was actually treated as an accepted normality. Sure there are freedom fighters patrolling the streets, but in all honesty the most powerful scene regarding the black-white divide is when Kevin Costner takes down the signs for the ‘coloured ladies’ room’ and says “here at NASA we all piss yellow”. 

Racism and segregation is not dramatised and rebellion is not romanticised like other Oscar bait movies of the same vein and I really enjoyed that. 

The performances are all beautiful with the central trio of heroines all being gorgeous and down-to-earth women that we can relate to. The supporting cast all work in perfect tandem with the heroines, bringing drama, comedy, conflict, and even romance into the mix. 

But the stars here really are Melfi and Schroeder for the screenplay. Alongside the stories themselves, further depth is brought to the film through the more-or-less seamless blend of authentic footage and re-enactment as well as the beautiful and truly inspiring monologues that shape and bring passion to the piece. 

Hidden Figures is a truly lovely film that is dramatic, funny, and touching, inspiring all those beautiful feelings of affirmation, love, and warmth throughout the body. If you’re looking for a way to kill a few hours in enjoyable comfort, then I would recommend that you take yourself to see it. 

Starring: Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Donna Biscoe, and Kirsten Dunst 

Rating: PG