'42'

'42' (PG-13) (3 STARS)

Written and Directed by Brian Helgeland
Actors: Chadwick Boseman Harison Ford, Christopher Meloni, Nicole Baharie, Alan Tudyk, Hamlish Linklater, Lucas Black, Andre Holland.

The inspiration, power and bravery depicted in "42" is palpable and blistering but that power really comes from the man himself. Jackie Robinson is not only one of the bravest and best baseball players ever but one of the most courageous men in all sports history. I am very happy that "42" was made because it is a story that will inspire youth and confront us with an ugly historical period in sports that now would seem inconceivable. "42" is a beautiful looking movie with great performances and powerful scenes, I just wish the movie was as majestic and inspiring as the man himself. I can not deny that the movie got to me in certain scenes though and I love the relationship story that frames the rise to greatness of Jackie Robinson.

"42" focuses on Robinson's rise from the minors to his rookie year with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie is picked up by General Manager Branch Rickey played by Harrison Ford in arguably one of his best performances. Rickey knows that the major's first black baseball player will get a lot of vile and hate thrown his way but he is strong willed and he is determined to get Jackie to the big leagues. He believes strongly in his talents and doesn't care what anybody thinks. That growing admiration between Jackie and Rickey is my favorite part of the movie. The stuff that doesn't work is the thinly written character of Jackie's wife Rachel. I wanted more scenes between them that lasted more than 2 minutes and more of the pain she went through.

Though the performances of Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman, who is a natural and strong as Jackie, and the relationship depicted between Jackie and Rickey is touching and carefully written. There is also a powerful and painful scene that had me choked up, angry and shocked. This is when Jackie is playing in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies and their manager Ben Chapman starts shouting racial slurs and repeating the "N" word ad nauseum. It is a tough scene that lasts a long time and it carries so much power. That is a strong segment but it seems miles apart from the rest of the movie, the power from that scene will never be duplicated. That scene feels like it's from a different movie than the other scenes and in a more fully realized and more powerful movie.

I understand and like that the movie focuses on Robinson's rookie year and how tough it was to get through the hate and racism. I just think that this would be an extrmely powerful movie if it would have been longer and covered more of Robinson's life. I hate to stir controversy but maybe someone like Spike Lee would have made a stronger, fuller movie like he did with "Malcolm X". The crowd I saw it with were all surprised that the movie ended when it did, it felt like there should be more. That being said I am reviewing the movie in front of me and I did like it a lot. I loved the relationship depicted between the two men like father and son especially when Rickey consoles Robinson after the Philadelphia debacle. The movie is beautifully shot, well acted and intriguing, it is an effective baseball movie. I just wish it was more fully developed and that it cut down on some of the cliches, obvious scenes and bad dialogue.