Hidden Figures

'At NASA, everybody pees the same colour'.

My initial thoughts running up to this review were cynical in nature. With the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Oscars so white and the resurgence of feminism within the past few years, Hidden Figures from a glance would look to be a cheap shot at Oscar glory; your typical award film culpable of ticking boxes in a generic and formulaic manner. It's also a movie about the space race and boy oh boy do I love space, so you can see how I might be conflicted here. Cynicism aside, what Hidden Figures really is is an uplifting story of hope and determination, of human ingenuity, human fallibility and human decency, and while not perfect by any stretch it is certainly not the cash grabbing film I feared it was, and is certainly worth a viewing.

Hidden Figures is best compared to 2014's The Imitation Game - substitute the Second World War for The Space Race, the Enigma Code for launch trajectories and Alan Turing for three African American women and you're set. Factor in the fact that the three women in question were vital and integral to the success of the American space program in the late 50s and 60s and you've stumbled into a winning formula. The films three leads Taraji P. Henson (Katherine Johnson), Octavia Spencer (Dorothy Vaughan) and Janelle Monáe (Mary Jackson) do admirable work in bringing the trio of real life figures to life. Although their efforts are displaced in time for reasons of narrative they draw you in to the difficulties surrounding them in an era of segregation and all out racism with wit and charm, being a trio of figures any audience would rally behind with relative ease. The film makes an equal point of bringing gender into the mix, introducing a double coup de grace to the narrative and a poignant middle finger to the current American political establishment - perhaps president Trump should give Hidden Figures a watch? Hopefully its feelgood charm and positive message might encourage him to introduce some variety to his Cabinet, but then again some things are surely stranger than fiction.

Glen Powell, Jim Parsons, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali and Kevin Costner round out the supporting cast. Powell's portrayal of the late John Glenn is respectful to the American hero, with Dunst and Parsons being suitably repugnant to anybody who holds modern and progressive views. Costner is the stand-out supporting actor with his role as Al Harrison, a composite of many people who worked at NASA at the time. Costner has settled in well to the well meaning mentor and father role - he's very much in Pa Kent mode here although far less spectral and far closer to sea level than his appearance in last years Batman Vs Superman. Brrrrrrrrrrr, I shudder at the thought of it. Rising star Mahershala Ali feels wasted in the role of the romantic lead - it's a shame more couldn't be done with him although I feel that too much time with a romance subplot would detract from the films narrative and our true paramour, mathematics.

While predominantly praiseworthy there were parts of the film that I found jarring. Hans Zimmers soundtrack is fine but the musical interludes by artists such as Pharrell Williams who recorded eight tracks for the film threw me during my viewing. I couldn't help but feel that more era appropriate music would have suited the movie more as each time a track recorded for the film was played I felt disconnected from the piece and my initial cynical skepticism started to return. With such a rich history already existing it felt a shame to waste it, but then again perhaps Mad Men has spoiled me in that regard. Director Theodore Melfi has pulled together an inspiring and uplifting tale, and while neither technically excellent or adventurous, the emotional strings are tugged appropriately, delivering a distinctly average but greatly satisfying story that will raise any and all spirits and perhaps might inspire a few young souls to become mathematicians and engineers.

If you're looking for a remedy for the winter blues, Hidden Figures comes as one of many treatments available. While I feel it could have been more ambitious it will leave the viewer with a warm and fuzzy feeling capable of lightening even the most determined shade of blue.