A brief note before I begin with the reviews. I will be taking a leave of absence from my column for a couple of months, precipitated by some travel and a myriad of other stuff. I will look forward to returning to the Sun Day News in the not too distant future.
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures
Entertainment Rating: ★★★★
Rating: PG: one profanity, adult storyline
Possible Oscar Nominations: Best Actress, Taraji Henson; Best Adapted Screenplay, Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
As of this writing Hidden Figures is number one in box office receipts over the past several weeks. Deservedly so. This is a true story about three brave geniuses who literally saved NASA’S space efforts in the early 1960s as we raced to keep up with the Russians. The launch of John Glenn into orbit would not have happened without the contributions of these three. The fact that they were African American women, working in the Deep South, makes the story even more incredible.
Taraji Henson gives an Oscar level performance as Katherine Johnson, a gifted mathematical genius who, when she showed up was mistaken for a cleaning woman. The rampant racism that existed in the work place, despite her obvious talent (beyond anyone else’s in the room) was unbelievable. Her courageous battle was one for the ages. All of the calculations to enter the space race were done without computers, it was fascinating to watch the mathematicians at work, led by our stalwart heroine, as the racism oozed from those forced to work with that “colored woman.”
Eventually the first IBM computers entered the picture and Katherine and her two close associates were instrumental in our efforts to reach the moon. Why it took fifty years to tell this story defies logic. It is most assuredly worth your time to see this one.
The Man Who Knew Infinity
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Entertainment Rating: ★★★
Rating: PG-13: no profanity, adult theme
Possible Oscar Nominations: None
Before you ask, this is not in the theatres at the moment. It was a few months ago and did not get a lot of fanfare. Regardless, this is a true story worth your time to rent or stream, as we did.
Ironically, this is another biopic of a gifted mathematician, uneducated and living in the slums of India in 1910. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire & Marigold Hotels) plays Srinivasa Ramanujan, whose mind flowed with heretofore unknown formulas when he was a mere child. He began writing them down and ultimately events led him to England where he teamed up with Professor Hardy, played by Jeremey Irons, at Trinity University. Surrounded by pampered elites in both the classroom and the administration he was subject to ridicule not only because of his race, but lack of any kind of formal education. Struggling to adapt to the English way of life, and having left his new wife behind in India, his perseverance and brilliance ultimately paved the way for groundbreaking math. His formulas today are still used, especially by astronomers as they explore black holes in space.
This may sound like a dull story, but take my word for it; it’s not. It will grab you early on and you will most likely go through a gamut of emotions as you watch. And, since you will probably be viewing it in your living room, the popcorn will be a whole lot cheaper.
