10 March 2017.
HIDDEN FIGURES ****
Before the summer drought of mediocre films (already started after the long award-season culminating with the Oscars), check out this excellent film about a trio of black women who were vital (one of them – Katherine Johnson – was pivotal) to the U.S. space program in the 1960s.
The beauty of this award-winning film is that it reveals an important hidden fact that few knew about until Theodore Melfi decided to co-script and direct it, along with his delightful stars, Taraji Henson (as the exceptional mathematician, Katherine Johnson), Octavia Spencer (of “The Help”) and Janelle Monae (of “Moonlight”). It is truly an ensemble performance.
The intelligence and perseverance of these three true-life characters is brilliantly portrayed in this very moving homage to these women full of fun and gumption, along with the space race with the Russians, the background to the moon flight (with a fine Kevin Costner), and even the decency of astronaut John Glenn. And as the tale recounts their careers at NASA and their private lives, it also shows the difficulties of crossing race and gender barriers in the 1960s. This is an exuberant, important, must-see film!
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.
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