Hidden Figures [Blu-ray]

This is an excellent film! Based on real people, it shows the courage and tenacity of the three lead characters in the face of gender & race discrimination in Virginia in the early 60s. It's a feel-good picture, so I'm sure that the situation was worse than it shows, but it does what it sets out to do in depicting the ladies' crucial role in the early space program. All of the leading actors are superb, Jim Parsons shows us that he's not just Sheldon & Kevin Costner is just right for the composite character in charge of the program.

HIDDEN FIGURES is a movie about the early days of the American space program. My interest in this movie arises from a number of sources. First of all, in the year 1958, there was in New York City an exhibit of Russian space technology. At this exhibit, I saw a reproduction of the Sputnik satellite. Also, I have read a handful of books about the American space program. Moreover, I own a couple of compact discs recorded by the rock'n'roll group, "Laika and the Cosmonauts." The movie maintains a serious character and consistent tone throughout. There are no elements of comedy, though the screenwriter might have been tempted to add comedic elements. One of the story elements in the movie is that one of the female mathematicians is disclosed as running for a half mile from one end of the NASA space research facility to the other, while holding a book of calculations. While this story element might have been exploited for comedic effect, it was not. Eventually, in this movie, the director of the research program (played by Kevin Costner) discovers that this female mathematician needed to run for a half mile every day to access a restroom that has the sign, "FOR COLORED WOMEN." This part of the movie contains one of the more powerful highlights of the movie, where Kevin Costner holds a crowbar and smashes and bashes and smashes and bashes it against the "FOR COLORED WOMEN" sign, until it tumbles to the floor. Please also note that actor Kevin Costner has excellent credentials for interacting with African American women, and for representing their accomplishments to the world. First of all, Mr. Costner co-starred with Whitney Houston in the stunningly successful movie, "The Bodyguard." Secondly, Mr. Costner recited a lengthy eulogy for Whitney Houston at her funeral (available on YouTube). Another consistent feature of HIDDEN FIGURES is that it avoids disclosing any of the violence, hatred, and discord that occurred in the early 1960s, relating to racism. Instead, HIDDEN FIGURES discloses methods to overcome racism, where all of the disclosed methods are reasoned, rational, calm, and deliberate. An example is the successful attempt by one of the female mathematicians to enroll in engineering courses at a whites-only school. Another moment that is unique and cleverly-honed, occurs where one of the female mathematicians decides to re-marry, after being a widow for many years. She kisses her boyfriend for the first time, and exclaims that she had forgotten how to kiss. I don't think that this particular concept has ever been disclosed in any other movie. Before watching this movie, some viewers might want to have a handkerchief on hand. That's all I have to say. FIVE STARS.

This is so offensive on so many levels. Imagine young black women getting the opportunity to get a practical, marketable education. Imagine black nuclear families with a responsible, loving husband living with them, building a life with them, teaching them, learning with them, growing with them as a family. Imagine young black women wanting to accomplish something great, something positive, in their lives. To be a part of a larger vision. To work hard and be the best at what they do. Imagine young black women getting jobs because they have worked hard to gain the knowledge, skills, abilities, and merit to earn those jobs, then excel at them. Imagine a world where young black women would have the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, abilities, and merit - to even have the basic qualifications necessary to get the opportunity to work hard for them. Imagine young black women earning a family wage, contributing to society, and paying taxes - living a "normal" nuclear life with their families. Amazing. What this film shows is how much white people were offended by black people back in that era, and how offended most white people are today at the idea this ever happened. People grew. People learned hard lessons from their failures. People evolved. Not all people, it's an on-going process, but it is a continuing process. A process which needs to be cultivated by everyone, not just whites. Horrible mistakes were made, but people learn from failure better than success - failures are lessons more meaningful and memorable. Failure sucks, and scars are important reminders of lessons best not forgotten. People should get credit for learning and evolving, in today's world, no matter how things have changed for the better, no credit is ever given, which hampers the effort. You want people to evolve? Teach them, work with them, don't just berate them. That applies to all facets of life, especially marriage. Celebrate steps accomplished to encourage, don't just demand more. Imagine how different the black experience would be if the Gov't provided a solid, practical, meaningful education to them, instead of the worthless education they historically had - the same empty education they are now perpetrating on ALL American children. An "education" where high school grads can't read, write, or do simple math, or even read a tape measure. Years ago, I worked with a lady who was married to a young black man. They were a very nice couple- very sweet. During that time, he was featured on the cover of TIME magazine with 9 other young people. They had been deemed the 10 best young minds in America. It didn't matter what any of them were - what "category" they were. What an honor at the time. I don't believe you would see any media do that today. Today it's all about hate and division. Politicians continue to do all of us wrong. Imagine where we would all be today if they worked to educate us and bring us all together to contribute to society and each other instead of motivating hatefulness and ignorance. You want to change the world? Educate ALL children with marketable skills and dump the media and politicians who work hard to hamper that effort and only preach hate to control everyone's lives. Politicians, media, etc., who work to de-evolve everyone and turn them back into the racially intolerant ignoramuses they were years ago. LBJ was the Godfather of oppression. He had the skills to make it look like he was doing the black population a favor while actually setting them up for massive failure which is still rampant today. That chain needs to be broken thru good, solid, practical, marketable education. Everyone should turn their racial efforts and drama into attaining that - demanding that. Over time, people with skills will work together to build. Skill and work ethics will prevail. I have seen it work. I have worked closely with people from all over the planet for decades. Color never mattered, skills and contribution did. This would be a whole different planet if society made cooperation and education paramount. Don't complain - contribute. Make your world a better place.

Where do I begin to praise the merits of one of the most inspiring and heartwarming films of 2016? HIDDEN FIGURES is simply poetry in motion from its phenomenal cast to its gorgeous period setting to its incredible and true story. Here is a very different story about African Americans. It sheds light on a time when things were slowly moving forward. There have been several movies in the past few years about the horrors of slavery and the violent days of the Civil Rights Movement. Those stories needed to be told, but HIDDEN FIGURES is a gentler story about the fight for equality. Our three heroes Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) have stable family lives and live in comfortable middle class homes. They are much like many women in the early 1960's with one major difference - they are all mathematical geniuses with minds far surpassing those of the average person. Although they have to work in the "colored" section of NASA, these three women are already far ahead of the game than most women (white or black) in the early 1960's with jobs at NASA. Their brilliant minds were held back because of their gender and the color of their skin, yet these human computers fought to be accepted and to play a vital role in the US manned space mission. HIDDEN FIGURES is such a pure visual delight watching Henson, Spencer and Monae circumvent the restrictions of the day to become the first in their field. Although the violence of the era is touched upon mildly, this is really the story of their normal but brilliant women just wanting to use their minds and be given a fair chance. This story is told with dignity and respect and a dash of humor. Katherine gets to work in the elite section with the "big boys' but with a few caveats. She is not accepted by the men for just as much because of her gender as for her race. A poignant fact is shown with a bit of humor. Anytime Katherine needs a bathroom break, she much use the "Colored" restroom in another side of the NASA campus-- 1/4 mile away. So a couple of times a day, Katherine runs with her work on her bathroom break. Funny but a sad homage to the segregationist laws of Virginia in the day. I could continue to praise HIDDEN FIGURES as one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Taraji P. Henson simply lights up the screen as do the other stars. Here is the perfect cast in a perfect film telling an overlooked story of dedication and inspiration.

Very good movie they were hidden figures just like the movie title wasn't treated well at the time it was like they didn't exist great mathematicians should see the movie it's about a group of women true story

Great Movie, very enjoyable

Excellent movie! I saw this years ago and decided I like it enough to I want it in my collection!

This is by far one of the best movies for ALL to watch and one of my favorites!!

Très bon film, j'ai adoré et je le regarderai encore souvent.

Très beaux film à regarder

an excellent video showing how coloured folks were so miss treated yet so valuable and intelligent

Um de meus filmes favoritos. Mostra exatamente como o preconceito é ignorante, mas foca na persistência de quem realmente sabe o que faz e demonstra. A Sra Katharine Goble, Mary Jackson e Dorothy Vaughan nos dão uma aula de sabedoria e superação.

Alles bestens!