Tackles Racism and Sexism While Never Losing its Optimism

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2017)

This is definitely a feel-good movie. It certainly tackles issues of racism and sexism head-on, but it doesn't combat it on as dark of a level as say 12 Years a Slave or The Birth of a Nation. It's held down by that innate darkness, but it's a film about overcoming those odds and difficulties in order to prove your self-worth. There are a couple moments where it does feel like it's hammering in its messages too hard, but for the most part, Hidden Figures allows the reality of what it's telling to send its own message, rather than forcing a message down the audience's throat. And that absolutely works best for this movie. Director Theodore Melfi does a great job making this film, and balancing all those different elements of the story. It works to elevate characters, while at the same time understanding the bigger picture of not just what these events meant for African Americans and the Glass Ceiling, but also for space research and exploration. It's an incredibly balanced film at Melfi's hands...