Space Race Relations..."Hidden Figures"

Hidden Figures (2016) B+

Rated PG

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell

Directed by Theodore Melfi

The Story:

In the race to beat the Russians into space, NASA was coming up short. Test after test was proving fruitless. Al Harrison (Costner) has ordered the first IBM computer, but it's taking forever to arrive and get installed. So he turns to the human computer section, and is sent Katherine Johnson (Henson) who can do computations better and faster than anyone else. Meanwhile Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer) can see the writing on the wall: with IBM on the way in, she and all the rest of the human computers are on their way out. Finally, Mary Jackson (Monae) is asked a simple question - why aren't you an engineer?

You guessed it, based on a true story.

Elevator pitch was probably The Right Stuff meets The Help.

Boiled down to the basic framework of the story, that's an apt description. The best part, those were both pretty good movies in their own right.

Hidden Figures doesn't let them down.

Johnson's story gets the most screen time, but the three stories interlock nicely together.

There is enough glimpse of life outside of NASA (as well as inside) that paint the Civil Rights portrayal as a whole without overshadowing what these ladies were all bringing collectively to the table in their own lives and to the history of NASA.

The cast is an amazing ensemble of talent...

however...

The casting of Jim Parsons struck me as odd.

I don't watch the show he is on, but I know enough about it and his character to know they annoy me.

So when he shows up here, it just felt more like stunt casting, let's give the comedy guy a serious role to show his range.

Meh.

However, you wanted to give me a character I didn't like, well, bravo, his casting sure helped.

:)

Aside from that though, inspiring stories, very well done by all involved.

Absolutely worth your time.

Final Grade: B+ / A- range.

Houston, We Have Another Problem... "The Martian"

The Martian (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover,

Directed by Ridley Scott

The Story:

During the latest manned mission to Mars, a violent storm forces an early evacuation by the crew. During the storm, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is struck by debris and assumed dead when the captain (Chastain) is unable to locate him. They leave the planet and head home to Earth. However, Mark's death is slightly exaggerated and he recovers and finds himself alone on Mars. He must find a way to survive, make contact with NASA, and wait and hope for his eventual rescue with the next planned return to Mars in a few years!

The fun part about coming to review these movies so late in the game is that much of the furor has died down. "Greatest movie ever!" "It sucked!" All those varying opinions are out there, and I just brush them aside and figure out if I liked the movie or not. 

And I quite enjoyed it!

I will mention that this one is nearly 2 1/2 hours long, but it's one where it doesn't feel like it, so that's always a plus.

If you're going for distance, make that time spent on the movie an enjoyable one.

Ridley Scott directs a stellar (no pun intended) cast who all provide outstanding support to Damon.

Damon, however, does the bulk of the heavy lifting as he has to be the center of the movie, acting and reacting to dire situations as they arise during his stay on Mars.

That said, though this is essentially a drama, there is enough humor and levity both on Earth and Mars, that you keep smiling and laughing even as you're on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next and will they get to him in time.

Because quite frankly, if they don't rescue Watley, you're going to feel angry and upset when the film is over.

But, at least you know they tried.

It's quite the enjoyable ride, and if you haven't seen it yet, you're likely in for a great experience when you get around to watching it.

Or, you'll hate it.

:)

Final Grade:  B+

Not The Michael Jackson or NASA Experience I Was Hoping For..."Moonwalkers"

Moonwalkers (2015)

Rated R

Starring Rupert Grint, Ron Perlman, Robert Sheehan

Directed by Antoine Bardou-Jacquet

The Story:

Just in case the upcoming Apollo moon landing doesn't work, the government wants to have a backup plan. They send CIA Agent Kidman (Perlman) to offer a ton of money to director Stanley Kubrick to stage the whole thing. However Kidman runs into Jonny (Grint) who pretends to be Kubrick's manager, and then convinces his friend (Sheehan) to pretend to be Kubrick so they can get their hands on the cash.

What should have been a ripe satire or even a gripping joy ride to one of the oldest, and greatest conspiracy theories of all times is dead on arrival.

I gave it the full 20 minutes.

I was pressed to eject it out much sooner.

It's a shame because they nailed the opening credits to be some cross between Monty Python and Yellow Submarine.

After that though, Perlman's delusions of being in Vietnam and seeing the enemy everywhere he looked added nothing to the proceedings.

The quick sequence in Diamonds Are Forever poking fun at the moon landing is a much better alternative to watch than this.

Then again, so is just about anything.

Final Grade: D

You Will Appreciate The "Gravity" Of Their Situation

Gravity (2013)

Rated PG-13 for language and space peril

Starring Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Directed and written by Alfonso Cuaron

The Story:

Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is on her first shuttle mission.  Teamed with veteran mission commander Matt Kowalsky (Clooney) everything is going fine until they are warned by Mission Control (Harris) that there is debris heading towards the shuttle and they need to abort their mission and get clear of the debris.  Before they can, the debris tears through their area, killing everyone except Stone and Kowalsky.  Adrift and alone, can the two survive in outer space and find a way to get back home?

Well, yes and no.

This is a pretty good little dramatic thriller.

The movie is pretty much all Sandra Bullock's and she does admirably as the astronaut who is in over her head.

Saved by her commander, she has one shot at getting home alive, but it's going to be a very perilous journey.

Think Apollo 13, but not real life, and much fewer actors.

Clooney's role is much smaller than you would imagine, but he does a great job with playing George Clooney.

:)

Beautifully shot, I have no problem with this film winning the Best Director award at the Oscars.

Otherwise, it's an engaging 90 minutes worthy of your time.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again in the future, but no need to own it, and no hurry to rewatch.  Maybe in a few years.