The true story of Jackie Robinson, the first
African-American to play major league baseball. BIOPIC/DRAMA/SPORT
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42 (2013)Written and Directed by Brian Helgeland
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, Jesse Luken, Hamish Linklater, Ryan Merriman |
In 1946, history was made. Jackie Robinson, a black minor league baseball player was chosen by Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey to be the man who would break the color barrier in baseball. In doing so, Robinson subjected himself to immense pressure, death threats, jeering racist crowds, and alienation from his own team. It was clear to Robinson that nobody wanted him to be there, and most of the players thought he didn't deserve to be. But he played, and he played good. Robinson was instrumental in leading the Dodgers to victory many times, and he soon won the respect of his peers and became a hero to so many black Americans of all ages. 42 is his story.
Chadwick Boseman is perfect as Jackie Robinson, and he channels Robinson's frustration and determination better than anyone else could. Part of the reason I finally watched this movie was the tragic sudden death of Boseman this past week. He gave us so few films in his unfortunately short-lived career, but he was absolutely fantastic in all of those films. I must also praise Harrison Ford in his performance as Branch Rickey, a kind man with a good heart who did the right thing and opened the floodgates for anyone to play in the big leagues regardless of skin color. 42 is a solid biopic of an American icon who refused to let American society tell him what he couldn't do. He proved himself again and again, and is remembered as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived. The film is ultimately about Robinson's gradual acceptance by the Dodgers' team, which takes a damn minute, and it really demonstrates the idea of racism and hatred being something you learn, not something that's in you at birth. It's a difficult film to watch at times because of the insane mentality of most of 20th century white America. In a lot of ways, we haven't changed much. But 42 reminds us where we used to be, and I'm happy to know that we have gotten better. |