42

On a Scale of 1-10 With 10 Being the Best

8

*Seal of Approval*

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Plot: This story is about Jackie Robinson who was chosen to play baseball, because he was black. The Baseball Executive decides it's high time that a predominately white sport has a black baseball player much to the surprise and hatred of many. The movie goes through Jackie Robinson's, and his wife's, experience through the first integration of baseball. The film has a pretty rocky start and as it was so choppy that I thought it was later in years than it actually was but it is a nice film, a good flick to watch with the family!

Characters/Actors of Note:

Chadwick Boseman playing Jackie Robinson: I loved this character a lot. This story is based off of a true story, if one is reaaaaally that unknown to baseball, of Jackie Robinson. This character had to be strong against racism and was made to understand that he was fighting these bigoted people, not lying down but by lying down. Jackie was told when he signed that he would face horrible comments, slurs, and even death threats and that he couldn't let his temper get to him. He had to let those things pass and not scream or punch back. Jackie Robinson had to act like the Ghandi of baseball and he did it! How cool is that? All those that did horrible things to Jackie were known as racists losers and did lose a lot of fans for their hatred. This actor did a great job as Jackie, in my opinion. First of all, he looked like a baseball player. He had long arms and looked as physically strong as a baseball player (they showed off his chest several times in the movie). Every time he stole a base, I was cheering him on as if I were watching a real game. Chadwick also had a wonderful connection to the actress playing his wife. I never thought it was over-the-top or cheesy. They had a wholesome and cute marriage from the actor portrayal I saw. Also, he handled playing a well-known historical person awesomely. 

Harrison Ford playing Branch Rickey: If you have ever seen Indiana Jones or Star Wars, forget that Harrison Ford because this guy was different. Branch Rickey is a man of God who often says thought provoking things to others. When Jackie doesn't want to play, Branch says that Jesus took blows without hitting back. When a coach won't play the Dodgers because of Jackie, Branch asks him if he died and went to Heaven and God asked him why he didn't play on that date, and the reason was racism, he didn't know if God would let him through the gate. Some may not like that but they have to think that back in 1946, Christianity was practiced by everyone, so everyone could understand those metaphors and their weight. I loved the quietness Harrison gave this character. He had a deep gravely voice but never really shouted or got too excited and that I liked. 

Nicole Beharie playing Rachel Robinson: I also loved this character. Rachel Robinson was classy but was like her husband in that, she wasn't afraid of racism. In one scene she marches straight into a White Only Ladies Room without even thinking about it or listening to her husband. You also realize, that Rachel Robinson had to worry about racism just as much as her husband, as her and her family could have been harmed. She received just as many threats and was not worried. She still went out to the games, still had babysitters, and still went on walks with her husband. Their relationship was so cool to watch as her victory was his, and his struggle was her struggle, and their love just grew. Nice to see a marriage not crumble to bits or be completely smutty with sex scenes. Lots of kisses and hugs and for that, I love.

Music: At times I thought it got hokey with the 1940s music and other times I was really into it. I felt orchestra pieces were more in need in this film. The song I enjoyed the most was during the credits called, "Did you see Jackie Robinson Hit that Ball?" So perhaps I'm just a hypocrite. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: When the movie starts, it looks pretty choppy. It's scene cut after scene cut which was distracting to me and it made me think that there were time jumps, which there weren't any actually. They also started the movie with the stereotypical yellow dirty thirties background color. Later they took it out and replaced the yellow with greens, blues, and reds. During this middle time there was more flow between scenes and you knew where it was going. At the end of the movie they kind of went back to the choppy look by going from the field, to the Baseball Executive, to his wife, to the crowd. I would have liked if they just stayed on the baseball field! I liked the brightness of the film and how the colors worked with one another, when those colors weren't mostly yellow that is.

RECAP:

The movie comes off choppy but I enjoyed the cast and the story line. I thought this movie was family friendly and cute. At first, I was wary of this movie thinking, "Okay, am I going to be thrown into a scary slur and beat up watching movie?" Gladly, I was not. Those were there, as that was the point! Jackie Robinson was asked into baseball to fight off racism, to be called those things, and then rise above them by not playing their rules. He played the rules of baseball and that is was mattered. I wouldn't put this movie as another "inspirational sports movie" as IMDb does. I put it down as a movie like The Natural. A classic baseball movie.

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