Hidden figures takes liberties with real life facts the. I might have felt more secure in that decision, and certainly would have had better ideas on how to handle some of the thorny racial situations into which i found myself. This stunning achievement galvanized the world and inspired generations to dream big. But its also an important reminder of how blinding prejudice can be. Hidden figures movie vs the true story of katherine.
Viewers should not be scared off by the two hour plus running time because watching hidden figures does not feel like two hours. Vaughan octavia spencer was one of nacas early computer hires during world war ii. Hollywoods latest propaganda is the movie hidden figures which tries to portray a story that a handful of black ladies were the key to the apollo moon shot and that they had to battle racism to accomplish their feat. Revealing the inspirational untold story of female africanamerican mathematicians working at nasa during the 1960s, the film hidden figures is based on a book by margot lee shetterly. Hidden figures and the true nasa stories behind the movie. The book takes place from the 1930s through the 1960s when some viewed women as inferior to men.
Instead, its a glimpse at how you win civil rights victories even if you dont win hearts and minds. The true story of africanamerican women at nasa deserves a stronger movie the feelgood drama of the influential women in nasas space program is as eager to please. Hidden figures has some cussing, but nothing derogatory toward another person. The book and movie hidden figures celebrate the contributions of africanamerican human computers who performed mathematical equations and calculations in the early days of the u. Hidden figures, a 2016 book by margot lee shetterly and a movie based on the book. I gave the book five stars for the importance of the subject, new information shared, and for the authors extensive research. Hidden figures, which is based on a true story, is decidedly less idealistic. Hidden figures is a 2016 american biographical drama film directed by theodore melfi and written by melfi and allison schroeder, based on the nonfiction book of the same name by margot lee. Behind the scenes of one of the greatest operations in u. In researching the hidden figures true story, we learned that kevin costners character, al harrison, is based on three different directors at nasa langley during katherine johnsons time at the research facility.
Hidden figures takes liberties with real life facts. May 11, 2017 hidden figures is a 2016 american biographical drama film directed by theodore melfi and written by melfi and allison schroeder, based on the nonfiction book of the same name by margot lee. Hidden figures 2017 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Astronaut into orbit this link is to an external site that may. John glenn wasnt that young when he went into space. The film hidden figures where the characters are real. Hidden figures, a movie about three africanamerican women pioneers at nasa, was slated for worldwide release friday. Domestically, hidden figures was the highestgrossing best picture nominee at the 89th academy awards. Hidden figures and the true nasa stories behind the movie the women who helped pioneer space travel have rocketed into the public eye thanks to the acclaimed movie hidden figures. Hidden figures doesnt try to push many artistic boundaries, but it tells its story so well that it doesnt really have to.
Feb 10, 2017 but if you read the book, youll discover the movie would fail a history exam covering actual dates and details. This tells the story of 3 brilliant women who have smart as well as great minds to help nasa out with the space program and to figure out all the technical aspects to improve the space program and one woman in particular is the one who really knows the figures to get. American biographical drama film hidden figures was released in 2016. Hidden figures movie and the story that inspired the world wired. Hidden figures the book gives some of that history, but i would also recommend reading reconstruction by eric foner and the warmth of other suns by isabel wilkerson to expand the view back to end of the civil war. The quote underlines this basedona true story movie. T he new movie hidden figures, which opens in wide release on friday, tells the story of the real africanamerican women whose mathematical prowess helped launch the united states into the space. Hidden figures and the diversity conversation we arent. There is a scene in the new feature film hidden figures where octavia spencer. Have not felt like that watching a movie in a long time.
Before we get into this, here are a few things to know about hidden figures, if you havent seen it yet. Hidden figures teaser trailer hd 20th century fox youtube. Nasas chief historian explains the real events that inspired the inspirational oscarnominated film. The movies director, theodore melfi, was unable to secure the rights to the guy he wanted, so he decided to make costners al. Dec 20, 2016 watching hidden figures i thought about how i would have felt had i seen this movie 30 years ago, when i made the decision to study math and computer science. Hidden figures and the true nasa stories behind the movie cnet. We thought it might be good to revisit the movie and separate fact from fiction with this article. The film also avoids the most glaring missteps of historical movies.
Hidden figures depicts the same nasa history as shown in the right stuff, but with a different focus. The movie follows the story of three women involved in the race to propel humankind into space. She became a leader and advocate for the west computers. The story of nasas real hidden figures scientific american. Hidden figures is actually two concurrent stories wrapped into one. The film, based on a true story, follows three brilliant women computers at nasa in the 60s.
The movies director, theodore melfi, was unable to secure the rights to the guy he wanted, so he decided to make costners al harrison a composite character. It tells the important, nearly forgotten story of the historymaking contributions black female mathematicians and engineers made to the nasa space program. Hidden figures is based off of the nonfiction book hidden figures. As final weekend box office totals pour in, the film about three reallife black mathematicians played by taraji p. Hidden figures and the power of pragmatism the undefeated. The women here do not ignore the racism that colors their lives. The true story behind hidden figures and the real women who helped launch the first u. The american dream and the untold story of the black women. Hidden figures tells the incredible untold story of katherine jonson taraji p. The movie, hidden figures black girl magic, black excellence, or whatever you want to call it, just keeps getting better. Sep 08, 2016 the true story of hidden figures, the forgotten women who helped win the space race a new book and movie document the accomplishments of nasas black human computers whose work was. Watching hidden figures and then reading hidden figures reveals the limitation of fiction, in particular, in films based on real people. While johnson is the main character, hidden figures also follows the trajectories of dorothy vaughan and mary jackson as they work on the friendship seven blastoff.
Jan 24, 2017 the story of nasas real hidden figures. Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson. I was in the minority for having finished the book. Led by a trio of unstoppable actresses playing black women who wouldnt be stopped, theodore melfis buoyant hidden figures is an oldfashioned feelgood movie with powerful contemporary. Top 15 movies added to imdb watchlists in february. Nasa mathematician portrayed in hidden figures film was 101. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as human computers, we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of nasa alongside many of historys greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of. It is based on the book hidden figures by margot lee shetterly that tells a true story about black female mathematicians who worked at the national aeronautics and space administration nasa during the space race. The true story of hidden figures and the women who.
Hidden figures movie vs the true story of katherine johnson, nasa. Hidden figures film tells the true story katherine g. Hidden figures is the incredible untold story of katherine g. More and more im doubting the validity of seeing stories based on the truth or.
Yes, they ask for the rights that are rightfully theirs. Hidden figures, a 2016 book by margot lee shetterly and a movie based on the book, celebrates the contributions of some of those workers. The true story of hidden figures history smithsonian. The true story of hidden figures, the forgotten women who helped win the space race a new book and movie document the accomplishments of nasas black human computers whose work was. I felt like i had just sat down and then it was over. Five facts you didnt know about the story hidden figures.
Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson janelle monaebrilliant africanamerican women. Twentieth century fox films based on a true story, hidden figures follows the events of the u. Its about three black women who worked for nasa as computers at the beginning of the space race between the united states and the then soviet union. Revealing the inspirational untold story of female africanamerican mathematicians working at nasa during the 1960s, the film hidden figures is. The american dream and the untold story of the black women mathematicians who helped win the space race by margot lee shetterly is a book not only about strong women but more. The top 200 movies as rated by women on imdb in 2018. Hidden figures brings a hidden gem of a true story to the big screen with a top notch cast in a movie thats not as groundbreaking as the tale it tellsbut accomplishes what it sets out to do with verve, humor, warmth and intelligence. The incredible untold true story of katherine johnson taraji p. It is a period piece set in 1961 and based on a true story. Audiences do encounter terminology and situations that were the harsh reality at that time, so some kids may not be mature enough to understand and. Combine the punning title with a based on true events opening title cards, and you could pretty much make up the rest in your head. Introducing true story with natasha alford a new original series on thegrio.
Hidden figures shows how a bathroom break can change history. Hidden figures cannot be historically accurate posted by sirwinston on 11217 at 6. They served as human computers, doing complex mathematics and engineering tasks to help launch the manned spaceflight program particularly, sending astronaut john glenn glen powell into orbit. And yet, utterly schematic though it is, hidden figures does highlight the chronic absurdity of a framework political or economic that arrogantly incorporates a baselevel bigotry into its inner workings. But they resist it not with violence or protest but with skill and persistence. The important parts of the movie, especially the discrimination that it sho. Broaden your knowledge of the hidden figures true story by viewing the katherine g. Jan 06, 2017 hidden figures is an inspirational exercise in understated activism. The true story of hidden figures, the forgotten women who helped win the space race a new book and movie document the accomplishments of nasas black human computers whose work was at the heart. The movie hidden figures tells the story of three inspirational women who were the brilliant minds behind many of the biggest moments in. Find out where hidden figures is streaming, if hidden figures is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The book and movie hidden figures celebrate the contributions of africanamerican human computers who performed mathematical equations and. Based on a true story, hidden figures follows the events of the u.
Katherine johson, the subject of hidden figures, died on monday at age 101. The visual blog information is beautiful deduced that, while taking creative licence into account, the film was 74% accurate. Hidden figures is a drama loosely based on the people at nasa. Few people read nonfiction books, so seeing hidden figures is the minimum. For nasa to get john glenn into space and home safely. What are the historical inaccuracies in the movie hidden. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as human computers, we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of nasa alongside many of historys greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut john glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Hidden figures is engaging, entertaining and enlightening but the screenplays fast and loose approach to historical fact risks blunting some.
Jun 05, 2017 hollywoods latest propaganda is the movie hidden figures which tries to portray a story that a handful of black ladies were the key to the apollo moon shot and that they had to battle racism to accomplish their feat. Freemans illustrations are striking, featuring bold, fully saturated colors. Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother. Real life john glenn in his spacesuit movie john glenn 2. Hidden figures dvd, 2017, includes digital copy for sale. Feb 18, 2017 hidden figures and the true nasa stories behind the movie. The true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched. My wife and i saw the movie hidden figures this weekend. Hidden figures is engaging, entertaining and enlightening but the screenplays fast and loose approach to historical fact risks blunting some of the movies eyeopening, emotional force. The story of a team of female africanamerican mathematicians who served a vital role in nasa during the early years of the u. Henson, octavia spencer, janelle monae, kevin costner. There is a scene in the new feature film hidden figures. Hidden figures is a 2016 american biographical drama film directed by theodore melfi and written by melfi and allison schroeder.
Henson, dorothy vaughan, played by octavia spencer, and mary. It focuses on the genius african american women at the heart of early nasa, at the height of initial space exploration. It is a book about society, struggles, overcoming prejudices, spirit, strong will, and brains. Based on the nonfiction book by margot lee shetterly, hidden figures is the true story of three africanamerican women who worked for nasa in the 1950s and 60s. The true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the numbers for nasa while telling the story of three unknown space heroes, hidden figures also reveals a greater truth about nasa. The story of the women who calculated flight trajectories that helped john. They served as human computers, doing complex mathematics and engineering tasks to help launch the manned spaceflight program particularly, sending astronaut john glenn glen powell into. Computers at that time meant human calculators, who ran staggering volumes of numbers, formulas and calculations in. Octavia spencer in hidden figures the truth, as so often in movies based on a true story, is richer and more subtle than the movie allows. The true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the numbers for.
In shetterly and conklings approachable text, the reader is introduced to four hidden figures and given a broad look at the united states history of segregation and fight for civil rights. It is loosely based on the nonfiction book of the same name by margot lee shetterly about black female mathematicians who worked at the national aeronautics and space administration nasa during the space race. In fact he was in his forties but the movie portrays him as being in his twenties. The american dream and the untold story of the black women who helped win the space race is a 2016 nonfiction book written by margot lee shetterly. Once you read the book, youll have a better idea for what parts of the movie were actually true, and which parts were embellished. Dec 27, 2016 hidden figures depicts the same nasa history as shown in the right stuff, but with a different focus.
This movie i highly recommend to buy it is a great value with plenty of history to it. Astronaut into orbit this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Feb 03, 2017 the true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the numbers for nasa. The movie adaption of hidden figures was approved over a weekend based on a 50page screenplay and was in production five weeks later. The real story of hidden figures and nasas women computers. Then watch an interview with tracy drain, a current nasa scientist who discusses her journey to nasa and the reallife women who inspired the movie. Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson janelle monae brilliant africanamerican women working at nasa who served as the brains behind the launch into orbit of astronaut john glenn, a stunning achievement that turned around the space race. The true story of hidden figures history smithsonian magazine. Jan 12, 2017 introducing true story with natasha alford a new original series on thegrio.