{2jtab: Movie Review}
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Jackie Robinson still matters. Major League Baseball, retiring his number at the end of this year with Yankee closer Mariano Rivera’s last season, knows this. Writer/director Brian Helgeland also knows this and the language of his new movie, 42, documents the ugly side of America – and a history – we’d probably like to forget. Robinson’s accomplishments; however, remain with us and 42 briefly reminds us why we can never forget.
Unfortunately, the movie feels a bit too self-aware and redundant in its two year storyline – even the minute fictionalized bits – through Robinson’s immediate struggles and successes. Let’s call 42 the CliffsNotes version of a civil rights icon. Yes, folks, it’s that underwhelming of a picture. Helgeland strengths still lie in his writing…not in his direction.
Written by Helgeland and blessed by Robinson’s widow, 42 focuses on Robinson’s rookie year and a pennant race confrontation with a pitcher who purposely nailed him with a fastball earlier in the season. Yes, the drama of the story can be reduced to that scenario. Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford in a commendable but over-the-top performance), general manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers, likes what he sees in young Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman who looks and mimics – down to the batting stance - Robinson himself) and sees a future for him far beyond just the role of another player.
In the months following World War II, when African-Americans fought for a country that didn’t extend even basic civil rights to them, Rickey, a deeply religious man, decides to take a stand and hires Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It is a move that is opposed by many – both on and off the field – and one that takes a large set of brass balls to pull off. Stubborn is only one word to describe Rickey but Jim Crow America must be dethroned.
Facing a world of death threats and discouragement, Robinson must stand at the plate and prove himself every minute of the day. He starts out slow but – encouraged by Wendell Smith (Andre Holland), a Pittsburgh-based black sportswriter – he learns to turn his aggression against his long line of haters into a long stretch of homeruns. Supported by Rachel Robinson (Nicole Behaire), Jackie’s rise from Negro League obscurity to civil rights icon is documented in 42.
While Robinson is indeed a hero, 42 wisely keeps his fleet-feet on the ground. I applaud the move toward brevity; however, there simply isn’t enough spit on this baseball to truly see it slice correctly. The film needed to be as barbaric as the racial slurs hurled toward Robinson and, as short as it is, it still deals out its fair share of mythic Herculean feats. The stages, sets, and costumes feel too new for the rustic of the 1947 era, there’s quite a bit for the history buffs to judge here but the Hollywood angle seems to have rendered this a bit too polished. There seems to be little attempt at masking costumes here. Mark Isham’s score is certainly too obvious – blaring horns and all – and encourages crowd responses – even on opposing teams – when breaking the color barrier itself is enough.
On the plus side, Don Burgess (Forrest Gump) provides the retro-inspired cinematography and truly captures the spirit of baseball and of the era with his camera. The fields practically crackle with each swing of the bat and the sweaty joy on the faces of the players is certainly palpable. The recreated games – from recorded box scores nonetheless – certainly have an air of authority thanks in part to Burgess’ photography skills.
Robinson was a keen strategist but the movie only tells half of the story. The film’s brevity in scope makes it feel a bit less successful than it ought to feel in its final moments. But when it slags, we have the always watchable John C. McGinley as legendary Dodgers play-by-play commentator Red Barber to entertain us.
I’m just going to say what I truly feel about Mr. Robinson. No one did more for Black America than Jackie Robinson in the early, early stages of the Civil Rights movement. While 42 focuses on Robinson’s jump from the Negro Leagues to the Majors, it could have - and should have - been able to do so much more with this legendary figure. As far as sports movies go, Helgeland’s 42 is only the beginning of a much larger story that the film actually leaves us wanting to see.
The Dodgers still lost to the Yankees in the World Series, after all.
{2jtab: Film Details}
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including language.
Runtime: 128 mins.
Director: Brian Helgeland
Writer: Brian Helgeland
Cast: Chadwick Boseman; Harrison Ford; Nicole Beharie; Christopher Meloni; Lucas Black
Genre: Sports | Drama
Tagline: 42
Memorable Movie Quote: "If Robinson can help us win, then he is gonna play on this ball club!"
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Official Site:
Release Date: April 12, 2013
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: No details available.
Synopsis: Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures are teaming up with director Brian Helgeland for 42, the powerful story of Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier when he joined the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. "42" will star Academy Award(R) nominee Harrison Ford ("Witness") as the innovative Dodger's general manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed Robinson to the minors and then helped to bring him up to the show, and Chadwick Boseman ("The Express") as Robinson, the heroic African American who was the first man to break the color line in the big leagues.
{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}
No details available.
{2jtab: Trailer}
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