Three inspirational stories brought to life in 'Hidden Figures'

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2017)

This year's crop of Academy Award-nominated films for 'Best Picture' was a crowded one that saw three films starring predominantly African-American casts. In 'Hidden Figures,' we get to see stories that have not previously been widely told about the important roles African-American women had in America's space race against the Soviet Union.
In 'Figures,' we follow the challenges faced by three "human computers" at NASA who fight their own personal battles for advancement amid the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. Specifically, Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) are profiled, as the exceptionally talented women make incremental strides toward better lives for their families. The film most notably revolves around the life of Johnson, who is a former prodigy-turned-math superstar. Johnson is called upon to become the first African-American to serve in NASA's Flight Research Division, which is monumental accomplishment in and of itself. But she joins at a time when the US is in the throes of the space race, which means it is constantly a high-pressure environment.
There are a few things about 'Figures' that work well. In addition to the script itself and the acting performances, the film is based on a true story - and not in a loose way. Additionally, the relationship between the NASA department head (played by Kevin Costner) and Johnson is touching and shows how when the stakes are high in a situation, people can look past differences that might otherwise cloud their view of someone else. It helps that there are more stereotypical characters cast in 'Figures' as shown in performances from Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons, both of whom do respectable jobs. But what 'Figures' really does well is it does not take itself too seriously. Sure, there are plenty of tense and emotional scenes, but there are also a number of laughs that lighthearted moments that keep things from getting too dark and depressing.
'Hidden Figures' is one of the most heartfelt underdog stories that hearkens back to films like 'Remember the Titans,' and is an example of how quality films based on powerful true stories can still find audiences in this day and age.