Grade: A
“42” will make you cry, laugh, cheer and experience just about every feeling on the emotional spectrum.
The biographical film details Jackie Robinson’s triumph over the color barrier in professional baseball, becoming the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. In 1947, he was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers — and the rest is history.
Director and writer Brian Helgeland brings a wide variety of experience and skill to the films, having directed acclaimed hits like “A Knight’s Tale” and “The Bourne Supremacy.” His expertise helps “42” come together in a way that would not have been possible otherwise.
Biographical films are always tricky because the movie only has a limited amount of time to tell a story that has existed for years. Helgeland wisely chose only to portray a certain portion of Robinson’s life, zeroing in on the the time when Robinson was first signed to the Dodgers.
He was newly married, father to a young son and navigating the tricky waters of the incredibly racist situations.
The film purposefully disregards the past and Robinson’s later future (which included playing in six World Series, winning numerous awards and securing a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame).
Simultaneously, the film focuses on one part of the present story at a time so that each element exhibited gets its time in the spotlight. For these reasons, the film does not spread itself out too thin and feels longer and more developed than its two-hour running time.
However, the heart and soul of “42” really is the cast.
Chadwick Boseman (“The Kill Hole”) gives a brilliant performance as Robinson. He rises to the occasion of depicting Robinson’s tumultuous life in a genuine and realistic way.
Equally incredible and moving is Harrison Ford (“Cowboys and Aliens”) as Branch Rickey, executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the man who signed Jackie Robinson to the team. Ford is terrific as always. Every time Rickey spoke, it’s hard not to laugh in heartfelt endearment.
Nicole Beharie (“Shame”), Andre Holland (“Bride Wars”), Lucas Black (“Promised Land”) and the rest of the crew all pull their fair share of the weight.
The beauty of the film is that the characters feel so real. If just one actor did even an average job, the film and the suspension of disbelief would have fallen apart.
Luckily, each actor and actress adds to the overall quality of the movie.
Above anything else, “42” inspires audiences to do their best and accept people of all backgrounds. The world seems to be hard pressed for heroes, but a viewing of “42” might just help ignite the heroes within all of us.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
