Hidden Figures Review

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Glen Powell, Mahershala Ali

Hidden Figures is one of the most unlikely success stories I've seen. I'm speaking of the film, not the success of the characters. This little "feel-good" civil rights drama opened to about $20 million, which is alright. Over the past few weeks it has had amazing legs, and has become the highest-grossing Best Picture nominee next to La La Land (which is a box-office tank). It just won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast, and might actually be a favorite for the Oscar. It's certainly proved to be the audience favorite. There's an even better success story inside Hidden Figures, and it's one that isn't told enough. We're used to biting race dramas lately. 12 Years a Slave, Selma, and The Help all evoke a visceral reaction, and a disgust towards the eras of racism. Then there are films like The Butler, which in my opinion do not go far enough. Hidden Figures finds itself balancing precariously in the middle, in that it is nice and happy, but it doesn't stray away from the hard-hitting racial issues. It handles them with poise, and with professionalism. Hidden Figures is about people who succeeded, and does not dwell on what brought them down. It honestly portrays a story of three women mathematicians who were forced to rise above their race to get the job done. It's pure inspiration at its finest.

Hidden Figures has won numerous awards for its ensemble and they are well-deserved. To narrow it down to Katherine Johnson (Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Monáe), you would have a trifecta of incredibly deep and moving performances. Then factor in equally great work from veterans Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst, as well as great work from TV talent like Jim Parsons (Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory) and Mahershala Ali (Remy on House of Cards). Most of the awards have been given to Spencer, and she gives the most nuanced performance. Spencer is always steady as a rock in everything she does. In my opinion, Henson outpaces her co-stars in acting ability, as she has the central role. Monáe also has a very flashy performance, but she is not as emotionally affecting as Henson. It is Katherine Johnson who grounds the film. Kevin Costner also serves as a fascinating supporting character who has a constant presence. I thought this was his best performance in years, and it's great to see him still getting work. Kirsten Dunst also does a fabulous job as an uppity woman I loved to hate. Jim Parsons essentially just played Sheldon in the 1960's. He can essentially only play this one character, but oh, what a character it is.

I was skeptical of the film's tone from the start. I really wanted the film to "go there" into that dark territory, and make a statement about the ridiculously unfair times these women lived in. It seemed very "vanilla" to me in the beginning. With the PG rating and the way characters glossed over tough subjects, I was suspicious that the movie wasn't going to be accurate. Then, as the film picks up, a different side of the coin is revealed. It was as hard to be a woman in this era as it was to be black, and these ladies unfortunately were both. I was pleasantly surprised to see the film go in this direction. My only wish is that it started out with the grit instead of building up to it. There is one scene where Katherine snaps on her colleagues that gives me chills when I think of it. What these women went through was absolutely atrocious, and Hidden Figures needs to take a very strong stance. It unfortunately takes that stance a little too late, but I'm glad it eventually makes it.

Hidden Figures is a fantastic movie. It will make you angry and make you reflect, and really makes you think. Its PG, so it's a great film to show to kids and introduce them to the injustices of our past. The cheese factor is there for the first third, but if you get past that, you will be treated to the retelling of the incredible story of three incredible women. It's so great that this film has gotten so much recognition and attention. As Henson said in her SAG acceptance speech: "They are hidden figures no more."

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