42

42

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 4/12/13

Reviewed 4/12/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I love sports movies. Although this is not the feel good, light-hearted story we might expect. 42 is heavy at times showing a lot of drama and baseball, but it had all the components: sports, history, inspiration, and a great script with the acting to go along. Seasoned Harrison Ford plays Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey and his performance was truly magnificent. Additionally, you would never know it was the first starring role for the impressive Chadwick Boseman playing Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson was a four sport athlete beginning in 1939 at UCLA and baseball was not even considered his best sport. This reinforces how good of an athlete he really was. After serving as a commissioned officer in Word War II, Robinson made his way to the Negro baseball leagues playing shortstop. Branch Rickey took notice of Robinson and against the advice of his inner circle he wanted to draft the first black American to the Majors. After playing a brief stint in the Minors, Rickey brings him up to the Dodgers and Opening Day 1947 Robinson puts on the uniform bearing number 42. The depiction of how he was treated doesn't do justice of what Robinson endured on and off the field. Ostracized by just about everyone including the Dodgers' players, he relied on his mental toughness as his resource to rise above it all. Insight was nagging at owner Rickey after he heard Robinson say, "you want a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back?" Rickey retorts with "NO...I want a player who's got the GUTS NOT to fight back." He intuitively knew Robinson was that guy and he was so right. Amazing slow transformations begin to take place with some of his teammates with the highlight of the public embrace of shortstop Pee Wee Reese. Robinson was the reason the Dodgers made it to the World Series that year and although beaten by the NY Yankees that was quite a feat and a big turnaround for the team. This is pretty much where the movie ends. My dad shared with me some additional history, which is also mentioned at the end of the movie. Robinson played 10 years with the Dodgers and won the World Series in 1955, finally beating the ruling Yankees. This is an amazing movie that screams Oscar for Best Movie, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. We have a little wait  for the nominees, but who can forget this movie for a long time?

QUIET Rating system: 4 Js

Quality: JJJJj

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJj