Hidden Figures (2016)

The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Director:

Theodore Melfi

Writers:

Allison Schroeder (screenplay by), Theodore Melfi (screenplay by)

Stars:

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 37 wins & 82 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Taraji P. Henson	...	Katherine G. Johnson
Octavia Spencer	...	Dorothy Vaughan
Janelle Monáe	...	Mary Jackson
Kevin Costner	...	Al Harrison
Kirsten Dunst	...	Vivian Mitchell
Jim Parsons	...	Paul Stafford
Mahershala Ali	...	Colonel Jim Johnson
Aldis Hodge	...	Levi Jackson
Glen Powell	...	John Glenn
Kimberly Quinn	...	Ruth
Olek Krupa	...	Karl Zielinski
Kurt Krause	...	Sam Turner
Ken Strunk	...	Jim Webb
Lidya Jewett	...	Young Katherine Coleman
Donna Biscoe	...	Mrs. Joylette Coleman

Storyline

As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. 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 history's greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes.

---

Plot Keywords:

space program | nasa | segregation | 1960s | african american | 

---

Taglines:

They wanted a chance to change their lives, but they got a chance to change history.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Talentos ocultos

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$515,499, 25 December 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$169,387,004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$234,874,979

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Chernin Entertainment, Levantine Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (some sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where Mary Jackson exit the courthouse, there is a store on the background. Its sign is partially obscured but based on the font and color it seems to be that of "F.W Woolworth Co.," Their segregated lunch counter was a site of a sit-in, first in 1960 at Greensboro, North Carolina, which became a focal point in the civil rights movement. This led to additional peaceful protests and the eventual desegregation of lunch counters across the country.

---

Goofs

While Katherine and Jim are on a date before their marriage, Jim is driving a turquoise 1964 Mercury Comet convertible. The film ends with the John Glenn orbit in February of 1962.

---

Quotes

Levi Jackson: Civil rights ain't always civil.

---

Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: A Monster Calls/Hidden Figures (2017)

---

Soundtracks

I See A Victory
Written by Pharrell Williams and Kirk Franklin
Performed by Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams
Produced by Pharrell Williams
Mixed by Mick Guzauski
Kim Burrell performs courtesy of New Brand Records
Pharrell Williams performs courtesy of i am OTHER Entertainment/Columbia Records

User Reviews

A Simplistic Hero Piece. No depth of character or story in any form. Beyond the stars, it's all flavourless window dressing

I understand that this was to be a hero piece. I understand that the main characters had to be better than everybody else. But what started to grate, and then to annoy, was the fact that not a single other character contributed a single thing. Although it was sometimes talked about, no character apart from the main two actually do any math, or any programming. The 'Big Bag Theory' guy complained some. I think Kevin Costner held a piece of chalk a couple of times, but he spent most of the time telling us how awesome the main character was. Whilst the height of realism is not required, the hard focus on the main character suggested almost that she was doing ALL the work herself, which made the whole thing look weak and unconvincing.

(Mini-spoiler: what DID give her the right to insist on attending a classified briefing? Theoretically, other people would have to know data too, but, of course, no one else does anything at all, so her case is different. Seemed like a pretty cushy job to work in that office.) Some other things happened in this movie. They weren't as important as the main characters. (The really motivated and snappy character got left behind about half way through. She had to go to school, so she didn't get to save everybody or whatever single-handedly, like the others.)