Four big films on this week’s “Wine and Film, A Perfect Pairing” podcast on reVolver Podcasts, each a possible #Oscars2017 contender. First up, “Hidden Figures,” the little known story of some rather extraordinary women who worked for NASA in the 1960’s, helping make sure John Glenn went up into space.

A few more notes from Gary on the film below. We paired the film with the wines of Nicolas-Jay, celebrating Associate Winemaker Tracey Kendall. More on Tracey in my post earlier this week, here.

To listen to the show, follow the link here and click “Episode 29.” And, be sure to subscribe through iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music or IHeartRadio.

And, get your tickets now to join us at The Dallas Arboretum on January 26 for our “Wine and Film, A Perfect Pairing” preview event of the 89th annual Academy Awards. We’ll pair special wines with the top nominations of the year, and Gary will give a full run down of his predictions for this year’s winners. Tickets and details here. 

The Film: “Hidden Figures”

Run to the theater to see, “Hidden Figures,” a film told through the eyes of three female African American mathematicians who worked for NASA in the 1960’s.

Segregation was prominent in our culture, women’s rights were on the backburner and just the simple act of drinking a cup of coffee or using the restroom provided obstacles, especially if you were a black female.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae play the three brainiac ladies with a sense of honest loyalty to their jobs, their country, and their families while remaining surprisingly patient.

After all, they are the smartest ones in the room and that includes NASA boss Kevin Costner, who has no time for such segregated nonsense. His job is to get John Glenn up in space, circle the earth, and back safely and he desperately needs help.

“Hidden Figures” is an Oscar level film disguised as mainstream entertainment. It looks good, sounds good, and feels good thanks to Producer Pharrell Williams and director Theodore Melfi.

They have a created a confident, sophisticated, PG-rated movie about a difficult subject that gets better and better the more I think about it.