'Hidden Figures' and the true NASA stories behind the movie

[BeckyDem]

I love this movie and hope it wins Best Picture on Oscar night!

Spoiler alert, please take notice.

NASA's chief historian explains the real events that inspired the inspirational Oscar-nominated film.
https://www.cnet.com/news/hidden-figures-nasa-true-stories-octavia-spencer-janelle-monae-taraji-henson-kevin-costner/

[alarimer]

1. It's a good movie but I found parts of it problematic.

Specifically the Kevin Costner character, Al Harrison. This was a composite of three real people, but what I had the most problem with was the way he came in like some kind of hero to tear down the bathroom signs. I'm sure actually desegregating the batthrooms took ages and lots of bureaucracy and not one guy with a sledge hammer.

Minor point, but it sort of rankled. The rest of the film was good though. I haven't seen the others so I can't comment on the relative Oscar-worthiness of it.

[BeckyDem]

2. I guess we all see things through a different lens. I didn't see his character as a hero. But a

man who needed a job done and saw the stupidity of racism. These women were so brilliant, I love their story.

[caraher]

3. I see your point but still find the Costner character problematic

Your take is certainly what I saw in the character in the film - there was a job to be done, and this racist injustice was standing in the way, so he took action against it - for pragmatic reasons if for no other.

But the larger issue is the choice to insert an entirely fictional event featuring a "white savior" in the film. Particularly when the most similar real tale involving a "Colored" sign (in a cafeteria) and the computers had one of the women remove the sign herself, then do it again when someone replaced it, before the sign disappeared for good. The real stuff is better than what they made up (but doesn't allow Costner's character his shining moment). This is a trope that appears in too many feel-good stories about fighting racism (case in point: "The Help&quot and for me marred an otherwise fine film (and to be sure, I still like it, I just found this a serious flaw).

[BeckyDem]

4. Oh I agree its a typical pattern, I just felt it was obvious his character was about the job and

that was his main focus. Coincidentally, Costner was the "saving" white guy in his big hit years ago, Dancing with Wolves. I understand where you're coming from, historically its been the message, the white guy saved us.

[alarimer]

10. Part of the problem is the way Hollywood distorts history for dramatic purposes

It's a long, sorry story. They fictionalize people or events so much sometimes that we remember things completely incorrectly. I guess the true story is a lot less cinematic or dramatic.

Don't even get me started on John Wayne's version of the Alamo, which put the fort on the wrong river entirely, among other offenses.

[BeckyDem]

11. They should be more confident in selling the story as it happened, but often they have a

narrative to prop up.

[csziggy]

5. In the book one of the black computers waged a war against a sign in the lunchroom

One table had a "Colored Computers" sign placed on it every day. One of the black women working as a computer during the 1940s would take the sign and put it in her purse. This went on for weeks, maybe months with new signs showing up regularly. Finally the signs stopped re-appearing. While the women of the West Computers (which was all the black computers) still sat at a segregated table, they no longer sat at one that was designated as such.

And you're right - the bathroom breakthrough took many years and it was not until the black computers began being integrated into other offices in the organization that it finally happened.

I finished the book last week. Now I have a feeling that I will be disappointed in the accuracy and depth of history of the movie. The book really gave a perspective on segregation and the fight for blacks and women getting recognized as equals to the men in NACA and NASA - as well as insight into the Jim Crow laws and how they limited opportunities. It also showed the small ways that desegregation happened such as when one of the women's son became the first black child to enter - and win - the soap box derby in Virginia.

I highly recommend the book. In addition to the history, it is a good read.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks for posting this - I felt the same way about the movie

I loved the story and thought the performances were wonderful!

[BeckyDem]

7. Loved it!

[pressbox69]

8. It was okay

I'm not wild about it. Nice to see Hollywood is nominating actors of color again and hope the tradition continues. I don't think it will win Best Picture because La La Land is a huge favorite. Not that I'm all out for La La Land but I consider it the best of a pedestrian Best Picture field this year. I don't think L L L deserved the record tying 14 nominations but will and should win B P. I'd like to see a movie about how true stories like Hidden Figures are kept out of the public eye for so long. The only B P nominee I haven't seen is Hacksaw Ridge and I will this week.

[BeckyDem]

9. Movies that try and tell a true story don't always get the accuracy and can hurt a story to a degree

I think despite any of that, this story is celebratory and that is fine by me. They were geniuses who more people now know about than before, that should count for something. Their contributions were essential for the job despite their color and gender. I hope the film wins.