Space Race

Rating: 7/10 (18 January 2017)

The 1960's is probably the most significant decade in African American history. The black movements of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X made history and sadly so did their unjustly murders. But in another part of America, three African American women are chasing a white police man down the highway on their way to make history in the NASA space program in an openly racist society. Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae and many more in what could be called the greatest feel good film about racial and gender discrimination.
Looking at the films style and substance, you'd think it would all come together like oil and water, yet somehow it works. The film deals with heavy themes such as racism and sexism while at the same time being directed as a feel good movie. Due to the success of Katherine, Dorothy and Mary, the film can be told in this way, and luckily the script finds this sweet spot to make oil and water mix together, as it brilliantly deals with the discrimination of the 1960's while also making you smile, laugh and leave the cinema feeling good.
The film features an all star cast which is often not a good sign for feel good films, but this isn't the case for Hidden Figures. Not only is the film good but so is the ensemble cast of famous faces. Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and Mahershala Ali play their roles well in this film, and Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae are fantastic in their supporting, and at times leading roles. But the real star performance comes from Taraji P. Henson as the films lead character, Katherine Goble Johnson. Although the film is about three women who each make considerably extraordinary achievements, it is Katherine Goble who is our lead protagonist, and Henson stands tall and performs wonderfully in this leading role, standing out of the crowd of an all star cast. The speech she gives in the "We all pee the same colour" sequence is extremely powerful and is simply mesmerising to watch.
Overall, Hidden Figures is a hidden gem. It's a well cast film with a stand out performance by Taraji P. Henson, and a conflicting mix of style and substance that somehow works beautifully together. I would highly recommend this to black women everywhere, due to its empowering representation of black women. But regardless of who you are, Hidden Figures is a satisfying feel good film that we can all take something away from.