REVIEW: Ford steals Jackie Robinson’s thunder in ’42’
I’m not a big fan of baseball. I was never one to track players, statistics or games. Regardless, I’ve heard of Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League baseball player. “42” is the story of how Jackie Robinson became the great man he was.
“42” begins with an interesting history of America post-WWII and a comparison of the attitudes toward African-Americans during and after the war. It was informative and also set the stage for the rise of Jack Roosevelt Robinson.
The movie showed the challenges blacks had during the 1940s, and it also portrayed Jackie’s contempt for racism early on.
One of the things that first attracted me to “42” was Harrison Ford. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen him in, from the Indiana Jones movies to “The Fugitive” to the Star Wars movies. I’m excited to see him in “Ender’s Game,” which will be released in November.
Ford stole the thunder from Chadwick Boseman. Boseman was great and brought life to Jackie Robinson’s story, but Ford had the most memorable lines and inspiring monologues, which I’m resisting to write because they’re powerful and philosophical. Ford is not as recognizable in “42” as in other movies because he gave himself an older, lower southern accent. It worked wonderfully.
Ford deserves an award for best supporting actor.
Ford’s character, Branch Rickey, was the force behind Robinson, and the one who decided to bring a black man into the major leagues. Rickey also ensured the members and coaches of the Brooklyn Dodgers respected Robinson and overcome their own prejudices.
I was impressed with “42.” Director Brian Helgeland, who also directed “A Knight’s Tale,” did not hold to the what is becoming cliche standards of a movie featuring or about racism. There were no home break-ins. Nobody was beaten until they were nearly dead.
Most of the racial elements of the movie were kept on the field or in the locker rooms, which was refreshing. It helped keep the film from becoming a heavy, serious drama.
“42” reminded me of “Remember the Titans” in some ways. Every game wasn’t shown, and some games only showed a couple of plays to highlight Jackie’s talents. The longer games brought elements of racism, tough times and growth.
I got chills when Jackie Robinson first walked onto the field after putting on his uniform with the now-iconic number 42. The music was perfect in that moment, and the shot was constantly moving in a way that followed Robinson but also inspired in the audience the feelings of the experience as if it were happening to them.
One of the basic yet critical lessons learned from the story of Jackie Robinson is the constancy of change. The journey to change is never easy. Whenever change happens, people have to change themselves.
There was enough humor throughout the movie to lighten the mood when the drama became heavy. Much of the humor came from Jackie’s wife Rachel, played by Nicole Beharie.
Jackie changed, baseball changed and the world changed, all from one decision from one man.
This is a perfect movie for baseball fans, especially as the baseball season starts.
– Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu or visit his website, themovieknight.wordpress.com.