The very best movies, or at least those with the best potential to be great, are those based on true events. It’s simpler to construct a storyline, find actors and create a set when the eye for accuracy is more important than your imagination.

Even with this in mind, Hidden Figures smashes every expectation.

The new film, which was released on December 25th, centers around the stories of three African-American women who defied Jim Crow laws in the 1960s south and became computers in NASA’s space program. The women, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) helped make John Glenn (Glen Powell) the first American to orbit the Earth.

The movie hits some hard topics in a very harsh but artistic way. Not only is there blatant racism coming from every corner but there is brutal sexism that only adds to the problems these women face.

The thing that can be most appreciated about this film is its lack of a white savior. While there are characters who seem far more accepting of diversity than others, the true antagonists of the film are the brilliant women whose accomplishments have been belittled because of their identity.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 out of 5 stars