REVIEW: Hidden Figures

2017 has started with a glut of great movies and long may it continue. Next up in the releases is the “based on a true story” of a trio of African American women in 1960’s USA working for NASA on the space program. Troubles abrewing in society as the trio of friends – Katharine G Johnson (Person of Interest’s Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson (singer Janelle Monae) all try to find their place in both society and work. Its 1960’s America and the equal rights are the focus – with riots, sit ins and segregations and this is the back drop to the film. The three ladies work for NASA as mathematicians and do their job well but find it a struggle in the world of the white man and the segregated toilets, drinks and other areas. As they challenge the status quo, the ladies play an important part in helping America in the space race of the 1960’s with Russia hot on their heels. This movie could have went all out and play the race card and be some sort of equal rights movie but instead is focussed on the women and the role they played in one of the most important achievements in American history. It does bring home the struggles of African American people and the desire for equal rights and the 1960’s seems such a distant way away, and the way it was seems very archaic but thinking back it wasn’t that long ago that that is exactly how it was.

"NASA in the 1960's - very different to how it is now"

This movie is an inspiring one and doesn’t force you to follow its way of thinking, but instead, is an incredibly watchable account of three amazing ladies. They were the stars of that story but were pushed so far into the background that the mainstream history books do not mention them. Instead history remembers the white men who achieved the impossible, yet the truth is far from it. An essential movie to rewrite the history books in modern times and excellent acting from the main stars too. Also featuring great turns from Kirsten Dunst, Kevin Costner and Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons, this movie is a great contender for some of the film awards later in the year.

POPSCORE: 9/10