Feel-good, empowering and thought-provoking

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2017)

Hidden Figures was, for a change, a bright, uplifting film that also managed to provoke thought and realisation of the need for change. Set in an inspiring 1960s scientific era, the film tackles serious issues of racial and sexual prejudice in an inspiring and uplifting manner. It was beautifully written, filled with motif and symbolism, and the performances of the three lead actresses were all astounding. The appearances of Jim Parsons and Kirsten Dunst were particularly surprising, and both played both the negative and positive facets of their characters to perfection. Both managed to be racist and unlikeable at their worst, and heart-warmingly kind at their best. The humour scattered throughout the film was appropriate, well-timed and didn't ruin the feel of the movie. My only criticism is that the women were perhaps a little too empowered right from the beginning. While I acknowledge that this is a true story, and should be told with accuracy to detail, the moments of empowerment later in the film lost their effect slightly due to the fact that I never saw the African-American women as "weak" or "oppressed" characters. Nonetheless, the film was empowering and dealt with the issue of prejudice very effectively.