![]() It's a time when resistance to segregation and discrimination was still civil, but as the movie shows, that resistance was beginning to firm up and become widespread. It's a time just before the rise of militant civil rights groups. This is the time of Martin Luther King's rise to prominence. At the same time, civil unrest was rising in the towns. This was not America's shining hour, even in some place as lofty as NASA. As "colored" folk, they got their own separate (and sparse) restrooms and their own, separate dining facilities. ![]() As women, they were employed as human "computers" because they were less expensive and they got their numbers right. The protagonists in this movie are three women of color working in one of the most unwelcoming environments they might hope to find: NASA Langley, Virginia, in 1961. Communications between the ground and the Mercury capsules were not static-free. NASA didn't have flat-panel screens back then. No, it's not a painstakingly accurate picture. This movie, "Hidden Figures," brings all of these worlds back to me. I never rode on segregated public buses, but they were there and I knew it. I never saw separate restrooms and drinking fountains for "colored" but they were there. I was heavily involved in the space race at an early age and watched every launch and recovery on black-and-white TV. I designed computers, I grew up in the south during the 1950s and 1960s. Filmgoer learn about some criminally overlooked figures from American history, but she feels pretty damn good about doing so.I'm an engineer. As director, Melfi has pulled off a ridiculously impressive feat. The great supporting performances of Kevin Costner, Jim Parson, and Mahershala Ali likewise deserve mention but this is definitely the ladies' show. Spectacular turns by veterans Henson and Spencer as well as relative newcomer Monae (a breakout role, to be sure) drive the strong narrative. But Hidden Figures's main purpose is to inform, honor, and celebrate, which the film does with great dignity and grace.Īdapted from the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi's screenplay provides the perfect template for this successful rendering. If it encourages action as well, this is only a good thing. With a PG rating, it is meant to be accessible. This is why their story has been re-purposed as a crowd-pleaser. Its intent is to raise the spirits-not look back in abject anger. This is a film meant to fuel the soul of all filmgoers, however, especially women and people of color. space program.Ĭertainly, the true events on which Hidden Figures is based didn't unfold so breezily in real life and the actual hidden figures themselves didn't enjoy such a breezy journey. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae) who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. ![]() This PG-rated drama presents the story of a team of female African-American mathematicians (Taraji P. For a teaching moment to be this heartwarming, entertaining, and rousing, it takes a very intelligent design and the true beauty of the film comes down to how the whole production explains a complex problem involving segregation and empowerment with such a single, satisfying solution. This is not to say that such storytelling is easy work, however. An inspiring story not aspiring for originality, Hidden Figures forgoes new math for simple arithmetic, boasting a different kind of edginess just in telling a tale of marginalized trailblazers that needs to be told and seen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |