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42

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, and Nicole Beharie
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Screenplay by: Brian Helgeland

    The number 42 will always have a special place in baseball.  Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player to play in the Major Leagues.  At the time, he was the only black player in an entirely white league.  With the help and guidance of Brooklyn Dodgers general manager, Branch Rickey, Robinson was able to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, which allowed America's past time to become what it is today.
     I'm a pretty big baseball fan.  So when it comes to making a movie about baseball, I am usually pretty interested.  This time, my attention was definitely grabbed when I heard about this movie.  Even though I am white, Jackie Robinson is one of my heroes in baseball.  I believe he is the most influential player to ever play on the diamond.  And since he was a pretty monumental person in life, this film should have been pretty epic.  Was it?  I think so.
     There are some terrific acting performances.  Chadwick Boseman, the man playing Jackie Robinson, is truly awesome.  Although none of us can ever know exactly what Jackie Robinson went through, Boseman gives us an excellent depiction of what Robinson may have experienced when entering the big leauges.  Harrison Ford is also excellent as Dodgers GM Branch Rickey.  But when is Harrison Ford not great?
     I like the story because of the way it's told.  It makes him look like a hero and an inspiration to baseball fans of all races, but still makes him seem human.  It's the same kind of depiction of a larger than life person as we saw in Lincoln.  The story makes us sympathize with Robinson when he's being bullied by white players and managers, and makes us cheer for him when he's being the hero.
     Occasionally, there are films that make you wonder what you can say about them after you walk out of the theater.  This is one of them.  It's truly an awesome film, even for people who may not be baseball fans.  42 proves to be a well edited, well shot, tells a great story, and incredibly well acted.  I strongly recommend seeing this film.  I give it an A-.

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