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Saw "Hidden Figures" this evening--and all showings were sold out at several theaters in our area.
We enjoyed it a lot--very uplifting. I can remember in 1961 that our teachers at George Washington Carver Elementary got more advanced math books from the library and burned the mimeograph machine out to give us materials we'd never have gotten from the hand-me-down books the town gave us. Some of that kind of thinking was evident among the "colored computers" in this movie.
My understanding is that the characterization of John Glenn's attitude toward the "colored computers" was accurate--he was said to have had the attitude of "They must be smart or they wouldn't be here, so I'm fine with them."
My only criticism of the direction was too much verbal exposition--the most brilliant orbital mathematicians in the nation giving each other 3rd grade explanations of things they knew in the 2nd grade. But other than that, it was good to watch.
I don't think they blew anything up, though.
No, wait, they did--they had record footage of a lot of the early failed NASA launch attempts.
I saw it tonight too, and our theater was sold out.
This is not my kind of movie and I generally avoid these type like the plague, but I gave into peer pressure.
I found it entertaining, and I think it did a great job of humanizing Jim Crow rule and offering multi-dimensional characters.
i am sure they took some liberties, but it seems reasonably accurate.
Love the 60s fashions!
Yes, it wasn't as though every white person was running around in a white hood all the time. I think they got that just about right for the main of middle-class blacks. There were black people on the streets--you saw the protests, you heard about the Freedom Riders. And there was the constant digging into the soul at low level--like not having a restroom within a hundred yards.
Saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. What amazing minds -- math is a mystery to me, so hats off to anyone who can make sense of it -- and amazing women.
Alas, I can't go see it this weekend, but I'm planning to hit the theater Tuesday evening! I've been looking forward to this film since seeing the first previews; I'm glad to hear it it is indeed as good as the preview made it look.
Yes, it wasn't as though every white person was running around in a white hood all the time. I think they got that just about right for the main of middle-class blacks. There were black people on the streets--you saw the protests, you heard about the Freedom Riders. And there was the constant digging into the soul at low level--like not having a restroom within a hundred yards.
And the scene in the library (and the aftermath) did such an excellent job of demonstrating how ridiculously petty the whole thing was.
The other thing I forgot to say. I think this movie should be required viewing for all 4th to 7th graders. This is the age when you start thinking math is boring and pointless and where the foundational skills for advance math are built.
I was a good math student, but didn't see anything cool or any benefits of doing advanced study. Seeing how math sends people to space is an excellent way to make math practical and interesting. That's what is missing in our math education these days.
I think my parents are about your age Ralph, and l we have talked a bit about how they felt like getting involved in the Civil Rights Movement. My dad was in the Army in the late 60s (stationed in England) and came back feeling quite disheartened with America after tasting freedom and and better treatment. He came back feeling like he was good enough to die for America, but not good enough for basic rights. He ended up debating a lot on joining the Black Panthers, and ended up not.
Was Ed Dwight portrayed or mentioned in this film?
Dwight never made any space flights, so his life would not have come into contact with these women. He would never even have been at the same facility.
I thought it interesting that the film portrayed--accurately--how incredibly invested everyone was in the space program in those years.
This was shown in the first scene when the three women ran into the white policeman. It was shown by the black people in rapt attention to the news (good or bad) about space launches as the white people.
Young folk today just don't understand. Back in those days, astronauts were absolute superstars at a level not seen today for anyone. Nobody today is anywhere near the superstar level of an astronaut of the 60s.
When an astronaut came to your city, the whole city stopped everything. Stores closed and there was a parade. He got the keys to the city, a new car, and probably a lot of hotel rooms. And they were pretty much as big a deal for black people as for whites at the time.
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