Hidden Figures was one of the best movies of 2016, scoring three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer. As stated in our Oscar snubs article, we also think star Taraji P. Henson deserved a nod… but we digress. The must-see movie that is exactly the film that America needs to refresh its memory about how much we accomplish when we work together instead of tear us apart has landed on DVD and Blu-Ray and is absolutely one for the collection as you will want to witness it any time you need a tsunami of inspiration.
Henson stars as Katherine Johnson, who along with Dorothy Vaughn (Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) provided priceless scientific, mathematic and computing smarts to NASA that helped John Glenn launch into space. The previously untold true story, which is incredible to think that this tale has not yet been told, landed on screens last winter and became a blockbuster and critical smash. One can see why it is so beloved. Hidden Figures is inspiring, eye-opening, deeply moving, and with pointed and accurate commentary about how we treat one another as human beings peppered throughout in a way that educates and informs while it entertains.
This is early 60s Virginia, i.e. The South, and it is still very much segregated. Those that run things don’t care that these ladies, and many others like them, are integral to the success of the space race. The Langley, Virginia NASA headquarters is rife with separate bathrooms, drinking fountains of course, opportunity for advancement. The film showcases all of the above in a manner that is never preachy, but simultaneously does so in a manner that has us watching the film in current day wonder how anyone could possibly have felt that way about another human being. Of course we are not naïve, and understand people still share these backwards thoughts, but it no less deepens the power of witnessing them and how those meant to be held down by these societal ills managed to work the system, never give up and fight for their right to achieve their dreams and aspire to happiness.
The big three are incredible. As we mentioned, Henson is astounding and plays against type (at least of late). She is almost a mouse of a character, confident in her mathematical skills, but shy in her personal and professional life. There are too many touching scenes with her family and Oscar winner Mahershala Ali’s Colonel Jim Johnson to mention, but have tissues handy because these scenes, heck much of this film is filled with moments of emotion almost too much to handle, one must find a way to let them out! When she does speak up and demand her day, it is the pinnacle moment of the entire film and even motivates her boss (Kevin Costner’s Al Harrison) to do something that at the time was downright radical.
Spencer is her usually awesome self and it is mesmerizing to witness her weave her magic on the screen once again, this time painting a picture of a character that was years ahead of her time in seeing the future of computing and instead of running from it, she ran to it and learned all she could until she was indispensable to her superiors at NASA. Not only that, but she educated her fellow African American female computers in the art of computing so that they too would have a future when the pendulum swung and these new machines needed programmers.
Monae is a find and radiates power in her screen performance. Her character too forced change where prejudice previously ruled. She, and her two cohorts, were innately intelligent in their skills yes, but also how to manipulate the system to get what they want and more importantly, needed.
Above all else, this is not only a triumph for African Americans to be proud of — this is also a film that celebrates the ahead-of-their-time efforts of women. It is still too rare to find women in the mathematic and science fields and here is hoping that Hidden Figures reminds all those little girls out there that they too can pursue a career in this world. The truth is, we need them, just like America needs this film.
We could not be more divided right now and Hidden Figures reminds us once again that we are stronger as a nation when we work together. There is timely, and there is the story of the three women of NASA who helped America launch in to space and march their way to a space race victory.
When it comes to bonus features, It All Adds Up — The Making of Hidden Figures is a terrific series of featurettes that chronicles the creation of this instant classic through various angles. We have to start by saluting No Limits — The Life of Katherine Johnson. Meet the real person that Henson portrays and prepare to have your spirits soar as high as Glenn’s capsule. One also gains a further appreciation for what Henson did with the characterization after hearing the real life hero speak.
The Right People for the Job is a great, historically based, look at how one could argue fate had a hand in our space race victory as these ladies were the right people to be at NASA at the right time when we as a nation and specifically NASA as an agency, needed them to be there.
One cannot help but marvel at the production design of the film and how that was achieved is expertly laid out in Recreating an Era — The Look of Hidden Figures. Adding to the tone and feel of the film is the Oscar nominated score by Pharrell Williams, which gets its spotlight in A Spiritual Journey — The Music of Hidden Figures.
All of the behind the scenes featurettes gives us the impression that this film was destined for greatness and is a more than worthy vehicle to impart the uplifting story of three women who broke down barriers so that we all could fly high.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: A