Hidden Figures
2016
****
Director: Theodore Melfi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Kimberly Quinn, Olek Krupa
In 1961, three black female mathematicians are in a daily struggle against race and gender prejudices as they attempt to make headway in their careers at NASA. Katherine hopes to get credit for her pivotal work in analytic geometry, Mary aspires to become an engineer, and Dorothy is eager to secure an official supervisory role. This delightful feelgood film is based on Margot Lee Shetterly's nonfiction book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race. This little known true story doesn't really offer a single surprise, but the wonderful writing and terrific performances turn it into an irresistibly compelling drama.
