2016's
"Hidden Figures" by Theodore Melfi.
Starring
Taraji Henson, Janelle Monae, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Costner, and Mahershala
Ali (having a heck of a year).
Nominated
for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Theodore Melfi
and Alison Schroeder), and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer).
“HF”’s
true story focuses on the unique lives of 3 talented and smart black women who
work for NASA during the Space race with the Soviets during the 1950's. In
particular, Taraji Henson's mathematician has to fight both institutional
racism and the body's needs for rest in the middle of the cold war with her
demanding boss (Costner) insisting labour standards aren't applicable during
war time.
The
movie is a pleasant reminder of resilience in the face of oppression, as the
ladies more than hold their own with the math nerds and bigots (often the same
thing). While being enjoyable, and competently acted and shot, it's difficult
to see this as anything but Oscar bait- based on it's simplistic exploration of
very complicated topics (see 2005's "Crash"). I'm curious if this
makes it into the best picture nominations if the academy hadn't expanded the
Best Picture lineup from 5 to 10 in 2009. Either way, “HF” may blast off, but
it never soars.
3/5
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