Review of 42 (2013) by Et2 — 23 Mar 2019

“The true story of an American legend” is an inspirational phrase for a biographical film called “42”. This movie is about the story of a famous American baseball player in 1947, Jackie Robinson, who broke the sport’s color barrier. Due to baseball film and American sensitive topic, it seems like people would not be interested in but it was the other way round. There are several reasons that make this film has become an inspiring biopic movie such as characters, dialogues, and social reflections.

First of all, the main actors are Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford who engaged performance as Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers, who is the general manager of Branch Rickey, respectively. Boseman is a suitable actor since he looks like a baseball player and the way he conveys the pain and rage from racism through his face because Jackie Robinson always got hectoring from strangers, baseball’s opponents or even his teammates. Moreover, Ford’s performance is also amazing. He shows how sincerely he wants to drive Jackie to achieve baseball. Eventually, this film is not about one man but two men who walk along the way together as friends regardless of discrimination. Thus, They both make us understand what Jackie is feeling when he got physical and verbal bullying along with impressing their relationship.

Secondly, Brian Helgeland, 42’s director, intentionally control some effects causing we are more into the movie emotionally such as the gap between dialogues, numerous impressional speeches and frequent excellent of music background. For example, when Jackie Robinson walked away to avoid unbearable preachiness, the film director lets the natural sympathy for Jackie’s ignorance instead of adding sound effects. Additionally, there are various humors in the dark scenes. When Harrison Ford is grumbling with some of the funniest retorts. This film smartly pays more attention to barriers and restrain attitudes than the baseball games, even though there are some moments that we can enjoy the match of baseball. Furthermore, the movie “42” reflects what society during the 19th century is. especially racism. However, we can see plenty of life’s aspects. For example, Jackie Robinson was treated badly- although society often would not allow him to travel, eat or lodge with the rest of the team, he focused only on his duty as working harder and winning the matches. Meanwhile, he needed to restrain himself on how to respond to racists and critics on the field. On the other way, not every white people are racists, they are some of those who were ready to understand them and raise equality. At the end of this story, an exceptional man who stand up for others being racial discrimination to the overwhelming pressures of racism to make a change among sorrowful tradition. Once he achieved it, their world has slightly been changed and been what we have seen nowadays.

In conclusion, “42” is not about the game of baseball, but it is about Jackie Robinson’s pain and anger. The causes that make this film has become well-known than other films in the same category, as well as one of the best movies are how those characters represent their roles and convey their emotions to us whether it is sadness, anger, hatred, or happiness. The factors that support emotional messages are dialogues and other direction by the director. Lastly, we understand more about those people like Jackie and it is ultimately impressed us.