Oscar nominated and unsettlingly topical, will this be the hard hitting social drama it needs to be?
Three unsung American heroes became NASA’s first women to progress in their respective academic fields. With strength of character and resolve to do something meaningful with their lives, Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson become an integral part of the Apollo 11 mission’s success. Overcoming a patriarchal society as well as racial discrimination their struggle to work as equals saw many setbacks.
All three leading actresses present a passionate study of the women they are portraying. The tasteful use of an undramatic approach helps to make it clear how much of their struggles were just seen as day to day life. The subtle approach also applies more significance to the moments of uprising. Taraji.P. Henson steals the larger share of the screen time in keeping up with the pivotal role Katherine had to play, however Octavia Spencer as Dorothy and Janelle Monaé as Mary Jackson help show the unity and strength of community required to push each other onwards.
Using historical footage mixed with exceptional CGI and cinematography, the visual backdrop to the story ranges from toilet stalls to earth’s orbit. At no point does anything detract from authenticity of the setting, enabling you to place yourself in the past with ease. While it is great that the narrative is not upstaged there are very little risks taken with creative camera work, the soundtrack also hits all the right notes but does not offer much character to the film of its own making.
Jim Parsons and Kevin Costner offer contrasting roles within the story. Parsons plays Paul Stafford, one of the leading minds in the academic team. Unsettled by the sudden appearance of an intellectually superior black women Stafford creates an element of friction in Katherine’s upward trajectory. In keeping with the other directing choices Parsons does not overplay this resentment. Costner’s character Al Harrison takes a very forthright stance on making sure Katherine is not discriminated against, the reasons for which are left open to interpretation between work efficiency and a personal sense of equality. The juxtaposition between the two character’s levels of pro-activity with their opinion seems to me to remove some of dramatic tension. I felt this may have been accurate to reality, but in light of it being a movie rather than a documentary it could have definitely been a more gripping experience, leading you on a greater emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
Hidden Figures is an inspirational historical story that fully deserved telling. It was directed respectfully and tastefully. I would compare it to the Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch which touched on a struggle of another nature within an academic position of national importance. Imitation Game sacrificed some of its sense of reality to create a more interesting narrative with more tension, while still managing to highlight the main point of its story. Hidden Figures has more subtlety and fun. It will no doubt touch a cord with many who know the more intimate details of the event but may not provide as much thrill or drama as other movies in its category.
Author: Joe, Bath store
