Hidden Figures
by Paulette Reynolds
September 3, 2017
Director: Theodore Melfi
Screenplay: Allison Schroeder, Theodore Melfi
20th Century Fox
Starring Taraji P. Henson/Katherin Goble Johnson, Octavia Spencer/dorothy Vaughan, Janelle Monae/Mary Jackson, Kevin Costner/Al Harrison, Kirsten Dunst/vivian Mitchell, Jim Parsons/Paul Stafford, Glen Powell/John Glenn, Mahershala Ali/Jim Johnson
by Paulette Reynolds
September 3, 2017
Director: Theodore Melfi
Screenplay: Allison Schroeder, Theodore Melfi
20th Century Fox
Starring Taraji P. Henson/Katherin Goble Johnson, Octavia Spencer/dorothy Vaughan, Janelle Monae/Mary Jackson, Kevin Costner/Al Harrison, Kirsten Dunst/vivian Mitchell, Jim Parsons/Paul Stafford, Glen Powell/John Glenn, Mahershala Ali/Jim Johnson
The triple threat of Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae in Hidden Figures signals a renaissance for women-centered historical dramas, an area sadly lacking in American films. That this film also features three black women as the main characters is hopefully a trend that will never slow down.
Strong performances override the cheap trick of adding several false situations that never occurred:
* Dorothy Vaughan was promoted to Supervisor in 1949.
* Al Harrison never tore down the bathroom sign, because he is a fictional character.
* Katherine Johnson never ran to the colored bathroom, because she refused to walk the extra distance.
* Paul Stafford and Vivian Mitchell are fictional characters, no doubt created to reflect the very real tensions of the time.
Debate about the historical inaccuracies boils down to the 'white savior' mythos that is often created for the sake of dramatic tone in films about people of color. Including a truly unlikeable character as Paul Stafford, and then having a lovable person like Jim Parsons play it, is just shoddy craftsmanship. Unfortunately, Hollywood can't seem to understand that the true story is much more interesting - and less racist - than half-baked sentimentality posing as justice.
Still, Hidden Figures manages to captivate us, despite the meddling of Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder, all the way to a happy ending - including making the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films for 2016.
Strong performances override the cheap trick of adding several false situations that never occurred:
* Dorothy Vaughan was promoted to Supervisor in 1949.
* Al Harrison never tore down the bathroom sign, because he is a fictional character.
* Katherine Johnson never ran to the colored bathroom, because she refused to walk the extra distance.
* Paul Stafford and Vivian Mitchell are fictional characters, no doubt created to reflect the very real tensions of the time.
Debate about the historical inaccuracies boils down to the 'white savior' mythos that is often created for the sake of dramatic tone in films about people of color. Including a truly unlikeable character as Paul Stafford, and then having a lovable person like Jim Parsons play it, is just shoddy craftsmanship. Unfortunately, Hollywood can't seem to understand that the true story is much more interesting - and less racist - than half-baked sentimentality posing as justice.
Still, Hidden Figures manages to captivate us, despite the meddling of Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder, all the way to a happy ending - including making the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films for 2016.
COPYRIGHT 2012/2017. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.