42 (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'42' (written & directed by Oscar-winning Brian Helgeland) tells the true story of how Jackie Robinson (an impressive Chadwick Boseman) broke the color barrier by becoming the 1st black baseball player to take part in a Major League game since 1884. The film begins in 1945 but mostly focuses on the '47 baseball season in which Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. '42' effectively realizes the racial resistance that greeted him upon his inauguration as a player in a white man's game (from the public, press, & players). When Dodgers' General Manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) tells Robinson "I want a player with the guts NOT to fight back," we understand exactly what he had to deal with in '47 {the audience I was with audibly responded to that line of dialogue}.
See, having to face unabashed racism from every angle, Jackie Robinson was forced to demonstrate enormous bravery & restraint by not reacting ... knowing that any incident could destroy his & Rickey's hopes for an integrated future in b-ball. So #42 let his talent do the talking. Robinson's story is obviously inspiring. But even though there are some truly GREAT scenes throughout, the biopic structure prevents '42' from being a truly great film. Instead of being a rich, detailed interpretation of his clash with baseball's embedded culture of segregation, it offers a good-looking, well-acted rote account of events. I definitely recommend the movie because it is competently presented, entertaining, & the story is both important and lonnnnnng overdue for telling, but I couldn't help but want ... more.
The film wisely focuses on 1 year, but there's a lot of story to juggle {which could be part of the lack of depth issue that I face with it}. There are 3 subplots vying for screen time: Jackie Robinson's romance with wife Rachel (Nicole Beharie) - they actors exhibit lovely chemistry together; Robinson's struggles against racism on & off the field; and the way in which he influenced baseball & society as a whole. We get bits of all 3, but the finished product felt a touch incomplete. I suppose it's difficult to effectively narrow the film's scope without impacting its themes. But then, that separates the great films from the merely good ones.
The most engaging scenes showcase Robinson's amazing athleticism. In one scene, he reaches 1st base on a walk, steals 2nd, steals 3rd, then jogs home on a single {loved it}. But the centerpiece of '42' recounts Jackie's verbal onslaught by racist Phillies manager, Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk). While humiliating to Jackie, the verbal bashing births positive consequences; they expedite Jackie's acceptance by his teammates, as well as whites who were appalled by Chapman's vile words. Other scenes highlighting racism include a black boy enduring the slurs thrown at his hero from the segregated stands. And another finds the Dodgers playing near Pee Wee Reese's racist Kentucky home; where we see a white boy's face tell the conflicted story of his confusion over Pee Wee's embrace of Jackie on the field.
Chadwick Boseman provides an attractive & effective Jackie Robinson. He's convincing on the field & shows enough bubbling-beneath-the-surface emotion to give the icon a clear element of humanity. I really like this up & comer. Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances as the stout, cigar-smoking, gruff-voiced Rickey; chomping on his lines of dialogue with ham & relish. His character constantly refers to God and (most of all) $$ as reasons to justify the 'noble experiment' of integrating baseball. But Ford really brings some depth, personal meaning, & levity to what he was trying to do with Robinson. Alan Tudyk gets under your skin as Philadelphia Phillies' foul-mouthed manager. And Lucas Black gives a sweet, if brief performance as shortstop Pee Wee Reese.
The script treats Jackie with reverence & love. I was enthralled during many scenes. But they're the type of scenes that conclude definitively without much room for contemplation, nuance, or pure drama. I didn't get an in-depth feel of who he was or the horrors of racism that he faced. Technically, the film impresses; with beautiful recreations of 1940's stadiums & game play. Everything looked/felt authentic, if slick with the glossy lacquer of baseball movies of old. Overall, '42' is definitely a worthwhile sports film that's about more than winning & losing. I predict it'll be a box office hit. I really liked it. I just wish it dug deeper. It's interesting, to me, that Mrs. Rachel Robinson, now 90, was a consultant on the film, because it could have benefited with a grittier script to compliment the rousing elements.
See, having to face unabashed racism from every angle, Jackie Robinson was forced to demonstrate enormous bravery & restraint by not reacting ... knowing that any incident could destroy his & Rickey's hopes for an integrated future in b-ball. So #42 let his talent do the talking. Robinson's story is obviously inspiring. But even though there are some truly GREAT scenes throughout, the biopic structure prevents '42' from being a truly great film. Instead of being a rich, detailed interpretation of his clash with baseball's embedded culture of segregation, it offers a good-looking, well-acted rote account of events. I definitely recommend the movie because it is competently presented, entertaining, & the story is both important and lonnnnnng overdue for telling, but I couldn't help but want ... more.
The film wisely focuses on 1 year, but there's a lot of story to juggle {which could be part of the lack of depth issue that I face with it}. There are 3 subplots vying for screen time: Jackie Robinson's romance with wife Rachel (Nicole Beharie) - they actors exhibit lovely chemistry together; Robinson's struggles against racism on & off the field; and the way in which he influenced baseball & society as a whole. We get bits of all 3, but the finished product felt a touch incomplete. I suppose it's difficult to effectively narrow the film's scope without impacting its themes. But then, that separates the great films from the merely good ones.
The most engaging scenes showcase Robinson's amazing athleticism. In one scene, he reaches 1st base on a walk, steals 2nd, steals 3rd, then jogs home on a single {loved it}. But the centerpiece of '42' recounts Jackie's verbal onslaught by racist Phillies manager, Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk). While humiliating to Jackie, the verbal bashing births positive consequences; they expedite Jackie's acceptance by his teammates, as well as whites who were appalled by Chapman's vile words. Other scenes highlighting racism include a black boy enduring the slurs thrown at his hero from the segregated stands. And another finds the Dodgers playing near Pee Wee Reese's racist Kentucky home; where we see a white boy's face tell the conflicted story of his confusion over Pee Wee's embrace of Jackie on the field.
Chadwick Boseman provides an attractive & effective Jackie Robinson. He's convincing on the field & shows enough bubbling-beneath-the-surface emotion to give the icon a clear element of humanity. I really like this up & comer. Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances as the stout, cigar-smoking, gruff-voiced Rickey; chomping on his lines of dialogue with ham & relish. His character constantly refers to God and (most of all) $$ as reasons to justify the 'noble experiment' of integrating baseball. But Ford really brings some depth, personal meaning, & levity to what he was trying to do with Robinson. Alan Tudyk gets under your skin as Philadelphia Phillies' foul-mouthed manager. And Lucas Black gives a sweet, if brief performance as shortstop Pee Wee Reese.
The script treats Jackie with reverence & love. I was enthralled during many scenes. But they're the type of scenes that conclude definitively without much room for contemplation, nuance, or pure drama. I didn't get an in-depth feel of who he was or the horrors of racism that he faced. Technically, the film impresses; with beautiful recreations of 1940's stadiums & game play. Everything looked/felt authentic, if slick with the glossy lacquer of baseball movies of old. Overall, '42' is definitely a worthwhile sports film that's about more than winning & losing. I predict it'll be a box office hit. I really liked it. I just wish it dug deeper. It's interesting, to me, that Mrs. Rachel Robinson, now 90, was a consultant on the film, because it could have benefited with a grittier script to compliment the rousing elements.