Hidden Figures (2016)

My Review

“Hidden Figures” is an historical drama film about three African-American women mathematicians who worked at NASA in the 1960’s, with one of them providing crucial calculations for the flight trajectories for Project Mercury, which helped the U. S. to successfully compete with the Soviets in the Space Race.

Director Theodore Melfi (“St. Vincent” 2014), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Allison Schroeder, created a well paced and watchable 127 minute movie based on the 2016 nonfiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. There is great chemistry between cast members, especially the three principals played by Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monae.

Co-stars include Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glenn Powell as astronaut John Glenn. “Hidden Figures” was a big hit at the box office for Fox 2000 Pictures, Chernin Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox. It received three Oscar nods for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Spencer), and Best Screenplay. It was filmed in Georgia.