Review of 42 (2013) by Rabih H — 16 Jan 2014

This movie was not what I imagined. If you think you are going to watch a baseball / sports movie, this is far from it. While there is SOME sport in 42, by and far this is a documentary, so don't be surprised.

Now documentary does not mean boring, and as far as documentaries go, 42 is the shit! The film follows the epic rise of Jackie Robinson (brought to life by Chadwick Boseman) who was the first black baseball player in major league baseball (MLB). There is no shortage of amazing events and epic-ness in this story, so the story is very up lifting.

Anyone even remotely familiar with the Jackie Robinson story will feel that this movie is true to history and does not over dramatize (another word is Hollywood-ize) any of the events too much. It's fun to watch without being "glossy".

While Boseman is the star and does a commendable job portraying Robinson, the show is absolutely stolen by the seasoned Harrison Ford. He absolutely knocks it out of the park (excuse the pun) portraying Branch Ricky, the manager of a young Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The art direction and era pieces are good and reminiscent of the 1940's, but at times, the cinematography somehow disrupts the illusion and we feel that it is somehow based in "modern times". I don't know if it's the inconsistent color grading or the over sharpness of the processing, but somehow there is a lapse in illusion.

The one issue is pacing and length. I think this movie is a little long and lingers in places, where while important to set the scene and engross the viewers in the mood of the US in 1940's.

If you are a history buff, a fan of baseball, or just enjoy well made films, 42 is a worthy addition to your DVD / download / blu ray collection.