Wow! This is one damn good movie! So, check it… We all know NASA’s importance to the space program and it’s development from it’s inception has been crucial to our technologies spinning around the globe. Back in the 1960’s, we had a Space Race to get the first man in space, man to orbit the earth, and one to go to the moon; and all return safely. Well, in order to do a fraction of that, you’ll need some bright minds, mathematicians, engineers, and scientists to even begin the process. Well, in a segregated and highly-racist America, it made it difficult for brilliant minds to cross barriers due to their skin color. Add in a female gender to the mix and you wind up with something next to impossible during a time when White men made sure only White people would achieve.

Enter three Black women who defied the odds: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Played by Taraji P. Henson, Academy Award winner, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, they give a performance worthy of your time, energy, and ability to question how much more successful the United States would be without a White power structure set in place where only White people would advance. These three minds were the key to a successful mission to help John Glenn orbit the earth and return. Imagine that. We, as the public, are only aware of the success of Glenn but don’t question why he came back alive at all.

The supporting cast of Kevin Costner as the director of the Space Task Group, Al Harrison and Kirsten Dunst as Vivian Mitchell, the condescending ass-clown who embraced her privilege so hard, you’d think they were married. There were emotional moments in the movie from Katherine the most but all members did their thing and although Taraji and Octavia were destined to pull their performances, Janelle did a bang-up job at this acting gig. The calculations and math involved were so solidly presented, it made you think you understood the formulas. Add in Pharrell Williams’ musical direction and you have a movie that you not only bounce to, but are extremely proud of…especially if you’re a person of color. And I’m POSITIVE women of color could relate to where they feel undermined by co-workers yet possess the knowledge of 20 of their peers and still have to prove themselves.

Yes…Cottonmouth from Luke Cage was in here too as well as the snide little dude from the Big Bang Theory (who did a great job as a manager who seemed also believe Black skin on a woman was way too inferior for him to deal with.) From the Colored Only signs, the White privileged attitudes, and the pent-up frustration each woman had to endure just to focus on their mission to launch Glenn, balance family, deal with racist coworkers, and STILL come out as historical heroes makes you wonder why their names aren’t synonymous with NASA. Good job, ladies!