(Minor spoilers ahead.) Quick note: This film changed subtitles several times, it went from 42, to 42: The Jackie Robinson Story, to 42: The True Story of an American Legend.
42:
The film chronicles several years, I believe from 1944-1947. It shows how Jackie Robinson went from a small-time black baseball player, to an all-star on the Brooklyn Dodgers, a hero to the black community (hell, a hero to every ethnicity and race), and an American icon. The film stars Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Christopher Meloni, Andre Holland, John C. McGinley, Lucas Black, Alan Tudyk, T.R. Knight, and Nicole Beharie. The movie is pretty historically accurate, except for one incident being changed for Meloni's character. (Minor Spoiler: In real life he was suspended from managing baseball for gambling, not for a Hollywood affair.) Oh, and the fact that the Giants wear their orange-and-black San Francisco colors when they wore New York blue at the time. The cast are all great. Chadwick Boseman proves himself a great young actor, after all, this is his first major role, his only other roles have been parts on TV shows. I see a wide variety of work from him in the future. You really believe him as Robinson, and feel the anger he does when he isn't treated equally. A real minor league baseball player (Jasha Balcom) was his stuntman during baseball scenes. Harrison Ford is great as Robinson's funny, witty, and inspirational boss Branch Rickey. Christopher Meloni puts in a surprisingly good performance as the supporting character Leo Durocher, the manager of the Dodgers. The film is written and directed by Award-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland, who wrote such films as LA Confidential, Mystic River, The Bourne Supremacy (uncredited), Green Zone, A Knight's Tale (which he also directed), Robin Hood, Salt, Man of Fire, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. He really directs the film well, and actually directs the focus of the film away from baseball, and towards segregation. This movie is a great baseball film, but also functions as a great anti-racism piece. The music for the film is a little bland, but isn't all that bad. Unfortunately, the ending for the film is a little lackluster, but the "where are they now" bit at the end is great. The film is a great hero's tale, and is truly inspiring. It makes you root for the underdog, and shows how someone who comes from nothing can rise up against all odds, become an icon, and become an inspiration to us all. The movie makes you realize why Robinson is the greatest baseball player who ever lived, not just for his amazing skills, but for his ability to conquer the game against all odds. The fact that 42 is the only retired number in all of baseball, and that all baseball teams honor him by wearing the number 42 on April 15, Robinson's opening day in 1947, is enough to let you know how amazing Robinson was. The film expands on his personal life, but not so much that it distracts from the main plot of the film. 42 is an entertaining, inspirational sports film, the best baseball film since The Sandlot. Due to it's strong cast, excellent writing and direction, and inspiring story, 42 makes my list of the best films of the year so far. 4/5 stars.
(Image: Wikipedia)
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