"Hidden Figures" is based on the events of real people, three black women who battled racial prejudice in the 1960s and ended up taking a place in the U.S. space program. Fei Dong's original songs are optimistic in style, the three leading actresses are amazing, and the movie is shot in a high-spirited, natural and vivid way.
"Hidden Figures" is exactly the kind of racist movie audiences want to see right now, one that makes people feel good after watching it. The film follows several black women who battle shocking racial prejudice in the 1960s and eventually gain a place in the U.S. space program. Surprisingly colorful and upbeat even in its most dramatic moments, director Theodore Melfi pays tribute to three women who have been oppressed, hurt, and completely ignored in American history. , "Fidong" Pharrell Williams' original song is upbeat in rhythm, perfectly combining personal strength with pop elements. On the one hand, the director embodies the lessons of history and the obstacles that need to be overcome, and on the other hand, he also makes three Taraji P. Hansen, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monnai The actress's acting skills were brought to the extreme. The film allows the actors to reveal themselves transparently, giving future generations a belated but extremely interesting history lesson.
The government organization Space Mission Team is building manned rockets that can fly, and Hanson ("Empire") plays Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician hired to "do the calculations" and verify data. Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer in "Zootopia") and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae in "Moonlight") both have their own ambitions, and Katherine and she have different responsibilities. But both struggled to fit into their new roles, faced with a work environment of all-white colleagues and the personal privacy of colleagues like Paul Stafford (The Big Bang Theory's "Sheldon" Jim Parsons). dissatisfied. But Katherine not only proved that she could handle the data demands of the space mission team, she survived the daily insults her white colleagues gave her, and she slowly and finally got to work on the project she really wanted to do - sending humans into the universe .
As Dorothy and Mary fight for opportunities in their respective fields, Katherine slowly gains the support of her boss, the gruff and pragmatic Al Harrison (Superman: Man of Steel's Kevin Costner), to begin Take on more responsibilities. After the successful manned flight of the former Soviet Union, the space competition between the United States and the Soviet Union increased, and all three women found themselves under increasing pressure, desperately showing their skills and education level, and even if they succeeded, their colleagues around It also hinders and threatens their achievements.
Don't forget that these women made history and played an important role in the advancement of the U.S. space program, and just watching a movie on this subject makes one feel extraordinary and beaming. The film celebrates human nature, and these three women are the perfect example of intelligence, grace, and determination, showing that people of color can create great value in a time when they are held back and hindered. But, unfortunately, there are some problems with the film itself: the women are idealistic, and their situations are written so dramatically that they lose their weight in reality. The movie looks like an idealized biopic, even though most of what's in it is true.
By contrast, Ava DuVernay's Selma not only depicts the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr. as he fought for civil rights, but also as much as possible about that era and the people involved in it. , allowing the audience to see a more subtle and fuller character and experience of things. If "Selma" is about the formation of every dish on the feast of the civil rights movement, "Hidden Figures" is a finished meal with exquisite decoration and gorgeous tableware. Director Melfi faithfully presents the daily humiliation these women endure, such as Dorothy working as a supervisor without a name or money, and Katherine having to cross a few hundred meters of a parking lot to use the nearest " "People of Color" restrooms. But the paranoia of their white colleagues is very flat, which means that when their cold hearts are melted and they finally accept these women and recognize their value, everything seems too logical, and the audience does not see this. How hard-won reconciliation came.
The three leading actors are all extraordinary in their interpretation of their respective roles, and when each faces different challenges, there are also subtle differences in their responses. Katherine's story carries more weight than the other two, because of her more direct relationship with the space mission team, and possibly because of John Glenn's (Batman: The Dark Knight Rises' Glenn Powell) insistence on going into space It was previously counted by Katherine herself. Hansen perfectly captures the character's nit-picking precision and astonishing perseverance. As Mary Jackson, Mona injects a healthy dose of pungency into the film's degenerate attitude towards equality, but it doesn't feel overdone. Spencer is as dependable as ever, finding a balance between the other two women, constantly being efficient and not afraid to find what she wants and fight for. When a white executive insists he treats people of color indiscriminately, Dorothy's response is perhaps the most acerbic in the film: "I believe you think that's what you think."
Director Melfi's previous work includes The praised independent film "Saint Vincent". As the songwriter of the film, "Fei Dong" also collaborated with Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack of the film, which left a deeper and clearer impression on the film, even when the protagonists experienced life, work and even legal When obstacles are encountered, the tone remains light and uplifting. The astonishing performances of three outstanding actresses prop up the sky in "Hidden Figures", telling a story that is absolutely true in high spirits, natural and vivid.
By Todd Gilchrist
View more about Hidden Figures reviews
