Movie Review: 42 (2013)
Sports biopics are always interesting to watch, although the more iconic athletes are prone to getting forgettable direct-to-cable features. Fortunately, for Jackie Robinson, whose career has changed baseball forever, 42 is a movie that is as powerful as any ball player can get.
In the 1940’s, Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) inquires about signing a black baseball player onto his team, something that was against the unwritten rules of Major League Baseball. Ultimately, he picks Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), proudly pointing out that they both are Methodists and served in the military. Mr Rickey warns Jackie about the racial hostility he will face and says he needs a player “with the guts not to fight back”.
And boy, does the hostility pour in. Jackie has to deal with fans who boo him no matter how good he is (and he is extremely good), pitches thrown at his head, and even resistance from his own teammates. But none of that will stop him from from hitting the ball, stealing bases (and sometimes home), and becoming an American hero.
Chadwick Boseman is the perfect Jackie Robinson. He does well playing the baseball legend on and off the field. Hell, he even looks like Jackie!
Harrison Ford gives a nice performance as Mr. Rickey, being a sort of mentor to Jackie in his MLB rookie season. If there is ever a movie about Roberto Clemente, another baseball legend the real Branch Rickey brought into the majors, hopefully Ford would reprise his role as Rickey.
There wasn’t one bad performance in the supporting cast. Nicole Beharie, who plays Jackie’s wife Rachel and Andre Holland as reporter Wendell Smith both did exceptionally well. The movie overall catches the essence of 1940’s baseball nicely. The crowd, the players, ball parks. It was all amazing.
42 is a great addition to the list of baseball films out there. It tells a great story of a great person. See it now! Go! Go!
Check out the other review for 42: