Yesterday morning I saw Hidden Figures, starring Tajari P. Henson and Octavia Spencer.
Katherine Johnson (Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) are friends who share something in common: brilliance. All three women helped NASA develop the space program at its most critical time and all three women were black. Did I mention it was the early 60s?
This film tells the story of these amazing ladies (several decades too late, if you ask me) and reaffirms what we already know: we need more women—and diversity—in tech! In every industry, really.
Despite it's overdue nature, it's refreshing to watch a story unfold that features such badass characters and know that they're based on truth. Even more gratifying? One of them (Mrs. Johnson) is still alive, well into her 90s! I can only hope she'll reap some of the glory she's so deserved all these years.
Anyhow, the three leads are charming and passionate and perfect in their roles; supporting actors like Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst are also fabulous. I'd love to find fault with the film so it would sound less like I'm gushing, but really I enjoyed it immensely from start to finish, so I'd be lying if I tried to nitpick.
It's light enough to bring a smile during the ladies' sassiest moments; sad enough to shed tears when one of the characters finally breaks down; inspiring enough to make you want to stop what you're doing and go change the world.
So, go see it. Then go change the world.
~~~
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Steve Jobs
Two weeks ago I saw Steve Jobs, starring Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet.
I fully admit that I've always been "a Mac." My first computer was a Strawberry Fields-colored iMac and every computer I've since owned has also been a Mac. I'm a very satisfied customer. I'm also faithful to Apple—owning both iPods and iPhones in my time. Again, having no regrets.
So perhaps I went into this film with a bias in favor of its subject.
That really shouldn't matter because I'll be the first to say it's not a perfect film. The main thing that bugged me was the fact that they really didn't care to stick too close to the truth. The entire film is structured around launches that were important in the tech legend's career, yet most of the situations surrounding them (with the exception of the public-facing moments) never happened. True, Jobs (Fassbender) had a rocky relationship with his daughter Lisa. True, his marketing maven Joanna (Winslet) was one of the few people who could call him on his BS. Not true, business partner Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogan) approached him before each launch and argued in public.
There are other sentimental details that were all the work of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, but I won't mention them here in case you'd like to immerse yourself in the fake magic.
All of that aside, of course the acting is phenomenal. Fassbender and Winslet should do more films together because their chemistry crackles. The writing style is classic Sorkin, meaning it's never boring and always more fast-paced than most people have time to project. It's fun to watch, regardless of what you thought of the man or the myth.
It will come as no surprise that I regard Jobs as a genius, and greatly respect his legacy. Perhaps I'll have to wait for a documentary to see the perspective I'm craving.
~~~
I fully admit that I've always been "a Mac." My first computer was a Strawberry Fields-colored iMac and every computer I've since owned has also been a Mac. I'm a very satisfied customer. I'm also faithful to Apple—owning both iPods and iPhones in my time. Again, having no regrets.
So perhaps I went into this film with a bias in favor of its subject.
That really shouldn't matter because I'll be the first to say it's not a perfect film. The main thing that bugged me was the fact that they really didn't care to stick too close to the truth. The entire film is structured around launches that were important in the tech legend's career, yet most of the situations surrounding them (with the exception of the public-facing moments) never happened. True, Jobs (Fassbender) had a rocky relationship with his daughter Lisa. True, his marketing maven Joanna (Winslet) was one of the few people who could call him on his BS. Not true, business partner Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogan) approached him before each launch and argued in public.
There are other sentimental details that were all the work of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, but I won't mention them here in case you'd like to immerse yourself in the fake magic.
All of that aside, of course the acting is phenomenal. Fassbender and Winslet should do more films together because their chemistry crackles. The writing style is classic Sorkin, meaning it's never boring and always more fast-paced than most people have time to project. It's fun to watch, regardless of what you thought of the man or the myth.
It will come as no surprise that I regard Jobs as a genius, and greatly respect his legacy. Perhaps I'll have to wait for a documentary to see the perspective I'm craving.
~~~
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Her
Today I saw Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.
If you've ever panicked, thinking you've lost all the data on your smartphone, remember how fast your heart beat in those moments, and then think how much faster your heart would beat if you thought you were losing a relationship in there too. That's what's at stake for the virtual lovers in Her.
Theodore (Phoenix) writes letters for a living. Heartfelt, beautiful letters that get sent the old-fashioned way since our society has given up doing so. He is sadly separating from his wife (Rooney Mara), who we at first only see in brief flashbacks that make us wonder why their love died.
Though his profession clings to the nostalgia of the past, his life revolves around the technology of the future. Though he's barely social with humans anymore, he does sign up for an Operating System (OS) personal assistant and soon develops feelings for Her (the voice of Scarlett Johansson). She goes by the name Samantha. Amy (Amy Adams) is Theodore's closest human friend and she is just glad he's got a thirst for life again.
Soon the feelings between Theodore and Samantha are "mutual" and they become a fashionable couple. They have steamy phone sex, go on double dates with fully human couples—hell, she even shops for him. Though as I write this, it sounds absurd, the dynamic is not so unbelievable when presented on screen.
Aside from Joaquin's overacting (which happens throughout in his exaggerated facial expressions), the story borders on sweet. Theodore is a nice enough guy, and what harm is it doing for him to keep company with his computer, right?
Well, the Big Looming Lesson here is that our world is becoming too disconnected as we try to perpetually stay connected. Nothing can replace human love or interaction; not even an entity programmed to our specifications.
Director Spike Jonze also makes a point of showing countless wide open spaces (both in nature and indoors), which illustrate how hollow our landscape is; certainly meant to be a metaphor for our hearts in this modern world.
Johansson did a fine job with the voice of Samantha, but I have to wonder if the effect might have been greater if an unknown actress (who we couldn't picture so easily) had played the part.
It's an interesting (and timely) concept to explore the obsession we have with technology; I only wish this had been more multidimensional and less preachy.
~~~
If you've ever panicked, thinking you've lost all the data on your smartphone, remember how fast your heart beat in those moments, and then think how much faster your heart would beat if you thought you were losing a relationship in there too. That's what's at stake for the virtual lovers in Her.
Theodore (Phoenix) writes letters for a living. Heartfelt, beautiful letters that get sent the old-fashioned way since our society has given up doing so. He is sadly separating from his wife (Rooney Mara), who we at first only see in brief flashbacks that make us wonder why their love died.
Though his profession clings to the nostalgia of the past, his life revolves around the technology of the future. Though he's barely social with humans anymore, he does sign up for an Operating System (OS) personal assistant and soon develops feelings for Her (the voice of Scarlett Johansson). She goes by the name Samantha. Amy (Amy Adams) is Theodore's closest human friend and she is just glad he's got a thirst for life again.
Soon the feelings between Theodore and Samantha are "mutual" and they become a fashionable couple. They have steamy phone sex, go on double dates with fully human couples—hell, she even shops for him. Though as I write this, it sounds absurd, the dynamic is not so unbelievable when presented on screen.
Aside from Joaquin's overacting (which happens throughout in his exaggerated facial expressions), the story borders on sweet. Theodore is a nice enough guy, and what harm is it doing for him to keep company with his computer, right?
Well, the Big Looming Lesson here is that our world is becoming too disconnected as we try to perpetually stay connected. Nothing can replace human love or interaction; not even an entity programmed to our specifications.
Director Spike Jonze also makes a point of showing countless wide open spaces (both in nature and indoors), which illustrate how hollow our landscape is; certainly meant to be a metaphor for our hearts in this modern world.
Johansson did a fine job with the voice of Samantha, but I have to wonder if the effect might have been greater if an unknown actress (who we couldn't picture so easily) had played the part.
It's an interesting (and timely) concept to explore the obsession we have with technology; I only wish this had been more multidimensional and less preachy.
~~~
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