42 | Film Review

Every year, in Major League Baseball, all players unite for one day to wear the number 42 on their uniforms.  42 is also the only number retired by all of baseball.  But do you know why?  Don’t feel bad, many of this generation do not know the story of one of the most important men not only in baseball, but in uniting the country in the acceptance of race.  That man is Jackie Robinson, and 42 tells you his story.

42 doesn’t begin with Robinson’s childhood, nor is it simply a biography.  The film covers the historic signing of Jackie to the Brooklyn Dodgers to become the first black man in all of baseball, as well as the country’s initial prejudice to eventual acceptance of his talents.

Chadwick Boseman stars as Jackie Robinson, and what a performance he gives.  A relative unknown, Chadwick has taken on one of the most iconic roles possible and has injected it with a heart, intelligence and pride.  This easily could be a one-note performance of an actor standing at the backdrop of a stadium with the music swelling around him, looking into the stands blindly.  Boseman takes it higher than that.  His Robinson loves both his wife and baseball, has anger about prejudice and most importantly he understands what it all means.

Boseman has a breakdown at one point in the film due to the vicious racial taunting, and his ensuing private outburst puts you directly into the heart of the character.  Boseman gives a star-making performance here, true, but he also manages to recreate one of the first true sports heroes and makes you understand why that word should never be thrown around loosely.

Harrison Ford, old Indy gives one of the best performances of his career here.  As crusty old Dodgers exec Branch Rickey, Ford captures the gruff exterior of a man who had to be tough to get this done, and had to have the heart to want it done.  Harrison Ford has played his fair share of heroes in his career, but rarely does he disappear for a role as he does in 42.  Almost unrecognizable, those that have left the Ford foundation are bound to return, and if this does not warrant an Oscar nomination, as well as Boseman, that system should be reviewed.  Great work by 2 great actors.

Robinson’s marriage is also given fair attention, as his wife stood the test with Jackie as well.  Played by Nicole Beharie, Rachel Robinson is a woman of similar character.  Their relationship is pivotal to Jackie’s ability to deal with the stress of it all and Beharie handles it with strength and dignity unbefitting most actresses on film these days.  Other standouts, SVU’s Christopher Meloni is electric as Manager Leo Durocher and Firefly’s Alan Tudyk (yes, he’s forever known as Wash) gives the most surprising performance as the racist Philly Manager Ben Chapman.  His racist taunt of Jackie is the centerpiece for the film, and if you can walk away from that without disgust for the racism that took place during this era, well you’re a better person than I.

Brian Helgeland directed the film, and yes, occasionally it does lend itself into the sentimental land of too much.  The racism aspect of the film may seem a bit heavy handed to today’s audiences, but by many accounts this was very factual in that respect.  Racism IS heavy-handed and ugly, anything less would be a disservice to the film and especially the topic at hand. Helgeland handled this well, giving equal thought to the bigots, as to those opposed to such discriminations.

More could have been explored of any character flaws of Robinson though, which would have intensified the film’s drama, but what is there is just enough.  The film is a little long, but you feel the story in your heart throughout most of the film so you can forgive its length.  Helgeland managed to do what I personally thought was impossible at this stage – he made me care about baseball again.

When I was a kid, my grandfather loved baseball and spent numerous hours telling me all about his love of baseball, as well as Jackie Robinson and what he did for America.  Comparing him not to other baseball players, but to men such as Martin Luther King Jr.  Robinson was as much a myth to me as Zeus is to most others.  To see his story so well captured on film, and done with such a proud, audience rousing enthusiasm, I only wish my grandfather were around to see it.  42 manages to capture everything I know of Robinson and put it on the big screen so everyone can appreciate exactly what that number truly means.

If $10 is the full price of admission, “42” is worth $8.50

Directed by Brian Helgeland
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni