Set in the 1960s, around the time Jim Crow was still around and segregation was in full effect, this movie explored the iconic and impactful roles these three women had in anchoring NASA into launching America’s first man into space and eventually on the moon.
I recognized the three actresses from the get-go: Janelle Monaé as Mary Jackson, Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Goble/Johnson, and Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughn. Well, I had to look up Mrs. Spencer’s name, but I recognized her from movies like The Help and Halloween 2 (she was the nurse that was stabbed up in the beginning…I don’t know why I remember all of that and it was nearly ten years ago.)
Needless to say, I enjoyed this movie. I was surprised by the accuracy of segregation they included. I loved the realistic approaches; how Jim Parson’s character persistently believed that niggers and of course, nigger women, could not do the calculations he and the other white men could. I also enjoyed him looking shook as she determined the location of land for Mr. Glenn in front of all the elites and when he served her her coffee at the end of the movie. The togetherness of family during a time when black people were still struggling financially really put meaning to the saying I hear so much; “We didn’t have a lot, but we had all we needed.” The ladies based on this movie struggled, worked harder than everyone else, and were highly resilient and patient throughout the entire time they worked at NASA.
There were, however, some inaccuracies that were included in the film simply because movies are limited to a few hours while books can be as thick as they want. Paul Stafford, Jim Parson’s character (you know him from The Big Bang Theory! As Sheldon!) was not at all real and was based on a mixture of different attitudes and beliefs many workers shared about blacks and women in general. The boss, Al Harrison, also was not a real character. The real name of the boss of this time over NASA’s Space Task Group was Robert Gilruth. Harrison was created to simplify a more complicated work environment, according to Wikipedia.
Mrs. Johnson also didn’t feel segregation as loud as the movie depicted. Remember the scene where she screamed at all the white men because she was coming and going to the restroom? The real Johnson explained that she “knew segregation was there, but just didn’t feel it.” Her reason was because everyone was busy researching and doing their work.
Overall, the movie was a perfect entertainment piece to it’s precedent book, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. As I like to always warn viewers, the book is always more accurate. As much as I love Fahrenheit 451, it’s movie, starting Erik Killmonger, dissapointed me to anger. I have such a respect for books that I don’t appreciate small “adjustments” made on the big screen. This is why I refuse to watch The Hate U Give or any other popular movies based on books. They always change the story.
But this is needed, because a movie is limited. But still, the anger resides.
Nonetheless, this movie got its point across. Determination and a sense of responsibiltiy and resilience can get you across the toghest enviornment. It truly is inspiring.
Shanedra Writes Too Much 