Powerful

hyped garbage

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A film about African-American mathematicians working at NASA in the 1960s who were critical to the USA's success in the Space Race. There are critics who've said that the film is a little heavy-handed in reminding the audience of the institutional culture which worked against women and African Americans at that time. But, it's a film intending to appeal to common sense, the difficulties people face, and by its style - create an emotional response. If it feels heavy-handed then be reminded that this isn't a documentary about NASA; it isn't a film about African American political activists; it's a film with a theme - people work hard toward a common goal but are let down by ignorant people on the same side. It's a film with big scope and big heart and strong central performances. It's also an interesting story and faithful to the real people and true events. There is an air of self-satisfaction, and it is straightforward and without any surprises, and there is an unfinished element to the ending, but it is enjoyable and it's at the better end of a long series of quasi-hagiographic movies made over the last decade.

Wanted to see as many 2016 films as possible, especially those that won or were nominated for the big awards. 'Hidden Figures' also had the further interest on being based on an incredible true story, with just as incredible people, set during a very interesting and still hard-hitting period of history.'Hidden Figures' was one of the best-received films of the year critically and it is not hard to see why. Not saying that it's perfect or one of my favourites of all time, and it won't work, and has not worked, for everybody. Can definitely see the criticisms directed against it, or at least a few of them. There are a lot of exceptional elements here too that make it an illuminating and entertaining film that is hard to dislike regardless of any factual inaccuracies and distortions. The film is very well made, beautifully shot with the 60s setting recreated and evoked expertly. The direction keeps things moving while giving some breathing space, allowing the character interaction and situations to shine through (and shine through they do) and making the most of the story and period. The music is a dynamic fit. Particularly good here are the performances, with Octavia Spencer and especially Taraji P. Henson giving two of the year's best performances. Kirsten Dunst is given her meatiest material in years and her performance is one of her best, likewise with Kevin Costner. The three lead characters are ones you root for all the way, ones you laugh with, are moved by and are inspired by. Katherine in particular. Much of the script sparkles in sharpness, wit and insight. Parts are amusingly absurd which provides a levity that stops the film from becoming overly-serious. Parts make one reach for the tissues. Parts make one angry in a way that is appropriate. And throughout a great job is done honouring these characters while not making them complete saints. Not everything works. The colleague characters, though acted very well, are nowhere near as interesting or well developed. They are instead too one-dimensional and pat, with only Costner's character showing a glimpse of any kind of an open mind. It does get a little heavy-handed, a hard trap to avoid with the subject matter and period and credit is due not trivialising segregation. Especially true in most of the characterisation being too neat, parts that are a little preachy and the coloured bathroom running gag getting a little repetitive. Personally wouldn't call 'Hidden Figures' offensive, more that subtlety isn't a strong suit.Overall, very well done, not a film to remain hidden and does inspire to read more about the story, the characters and the period. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Three brilliant people aim to have great careers at NASA. But this is 1961. And they are women. And black.Our three women - and I use the word "our" because this film is so effective at helping you to identify with them - are maths whiz Katherine (Taraji P Henson), trailblazing computer programmer Dorothy (Viola Davis), and engineer Mary (Janelle Monae). All three are gifted beyond even their contemporaries at NASA, but all three are held back by the double "handicaps" of sex and colour. This film tells their stories.There are several stories here - as well as the individual stories of the three women, there is also the story of fighting to get John Glenn into orbit and safely returned to Earth, and a variety of what would be called sub-plots if this were fiction.But it isn't fiction. Dramatised for the screen, yes, but the substance here is true, and it is sobering to realise that the colour bar in the USA was fully operational so recently.For all that we are presented with a dispiriting picture of how things were, we are never lectured to. This film is rich and heartwarming, helped by the portrayal of these three great women whose achievements and real-life pictures are shown with the end credits. These are strong characters, nicely drawn. We like them, and are pleased to see that their abilities and achievements are finally recognised. The performances here are all good - the principals hold the film, of course. but Kevin Costner as the Head of the Mission Control maths department is another sympathetic character, while Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons are effectively less so.The period detail is good. The film is paced well, subject only to a bit too much time given to Katherine's half-mile runs to the toilet. And there is quite a lot of humour. For a two-hour film, the time never drags. And, for a film which addresses a worthy, socially important subject, it never forgets to be entertaining.I enjoyed this rather more than some of the other Best Film contenders for this year's Oscars.

I saw this movie in theaters twice. My mom dragged me to the first viewing and the second one was for a school trip. Characters - The acting is great all around. The characters are all interesting and well-developed. Plot - The plot is pretty solid. No complaints here. This movie, though long and not the type of movie I'd go out of my way to watch, is fairly entertaining and well done. Stupid - There are a few scenes that kinda bugged me, but I'm just going to mention 2. In one scene someone at NASA misjudged the size of a door and they had to knock in the wall with a sledgehammer to move some equipment. It was played as a joke, but it wasn't that funny and it annoyed me that they were so uncoordinated and they just wrecked the wall. Second, there is a scene later in the movie where a guy is knocking down the sign for the "colored bathroom" with a crowbar and wrecks the wall. There is a massive gash in the wall after it finally falls. What the dude should've done is carefully remove the sign (which would've been faster) and then took the sign outside to burn it or something. Wrecking walls may seem convenient in the short time, but what about when you have to go hire someone to fix the wall? Doesn't seem so convenient now does it?Sights and Sounds - The cinematography for this movie is fantastic. The sound mixing isn't terrible, but it could've been better.