Review of 42 (2013) by Mark P — 15 Dec 2018

I couldn't help but notice that on Day1 of Jackie Robinson career in the Big Leagues: 04/15/1947, film makers showed the national anthem being played and everyone of all colors, sizes, or positions in Ebbetts Field that day paid respect to the National Anthem, and there was much more about which to protest at that moment than Colin R.

Kaepernick could even imagine. Not that I dispute the right of Mr. Kaepernick to kneel during that time, but maybe it's appropriate for him to watch "42" a couple more times if he thinks heâ(TM)s given more than his share.

Jackie Robinson was the right man for the job back in the day and CRK is not. In fact, all professional athletes stand on the shoulders of Mr. Robinson, who defines the word "hero" in this movie.

The film is a true rendition of what happened because of Branch Rickey and his desire to integrate professional baseball. I almost could not watch the movie b/c I have read the biography by Arnold Rampersad, who in 1998, methodically retraced the amazing story of Robinson's transition from a local SoCal collegiate sports star into the man who broke the unwritten but solid âcolor lineâ? in the country's then preeminent sportâ"ultimately changing race relations forever, at great sacrifice, and through great pain.

Like many historical movies recently, the attention to detail in recreating the post-WWII era is meticulous, and the movie hits all the right notes. One theme that Mr. Rickey will not turn loose of is that this was a divine mission ordained by God and that Jackie Robinson was built to take on the isolation, denegration, and suffering that he was forced to endure.

Whatâ(TM)s so sad about the era's blind racisim was that they were just playing baseball and the measure of a man in baseball is whether he can get around the base path. The color of his skin was about as relevant as the color of his uniform; however, the color of his skin was like an obvious âmark of greatnessâ? in this case â" a differentiation actually marked by his character, but only seen from the outside, as being the color of a Negro (as he was called back then).

Robinson's time in the wilderness that first season 1947 (which ends triumphantly with the movie) required an endurance, forgiveness, patience, long-suffering spirit, and sacrifice that clearly makes him a Christ-figure; and deservedly so, because I believe that was the intention of Brian Helgeland, the writer and director of this film.

(released 2013) 4 stars-****.