Hidden Figures
Directed By: Theodore Melfi
Grade: A-
I finally got to see Hidden Figures this week! It’s one I had been looking forward to for a long time and thankfully it lived up to the hype. Even though my theater somehow forgot how to start the movie on time and then how to turn down the lights. But that’s a whole other deal.
Hidden Figures tells the stories of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) , Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) and their participation and important work at NASA during the space race despite the discrimination and sexism that they faced. I teared up at the beginning of the movie with the child Katherine and at the end when they flashed up what the three women went on to do and achieve.
The cast was fantastic. Spencer always delivers, Kevin Costner was very good as well and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jim Parsons play someone outside of Sheldon Cooper. I actually wanted to smack him here more than as Sheldon. Taraji P. Henson was definitely the best part for me though. I’m really sad she’s not getting more awards recognition especially the scene where she finally gets upset about the bathroom and lets loose some of the emotion that’s been building up.
But honestly, I think every cast member had a really good meaty scene that I could point to  that I really liked.
But I did feel like it dragged in places. It was hard to feel any tension over the space stuff knowing how it turned out. The relationship between Katherine and Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali) was sweet but it pushed all my personal buttons for over-the-top sweetness during the movie. I rolled my eyes at one point. However when I saw how long they were married at the end it was forgiven 🙂 I’m just not that much of a romantic.
Recommend: Yes. Incredible story and great cast! I’m glad I got out and saw this one in theaters.
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