Review of Hidden Figures (2016) by Frank R — 25 Feb 2017

Hidden Figures reminds me a bit of Argo from a few years back - both worthy Best Picture nominees that could have been one of the favorites for an Oscar if not for being hamstrung by casting choices. For Argo, it was Ben Affleck in the lead role.

For Hidden Figures, it's Kirsten Dunst and, more so, Jim Parsons in their supporting roles. Each actor plays a key antagonist in a film that needed strong antagonists due to their limited screen time.

Dunst simply never rises to the occasion and Parsons, well, is so busy trying to not be Big Bang Theory's Sheldon that he just ends up being nobody. Plus, the choice to cast arguably the most famous fictional nerd since Steve Urkel in the role of a scientist shows phenomenally poor judgement because even when Parsons is in the background, he just looks like Sheldon in a suit in the background and you think, "Hey! There's Sheldon!" Which is unfortunate because proper antagonists opposite the powerful trio of protagonists could have elevated this movie from Oscar-worthy to Oscar-darling.