A fascinating story, well-presented and well-told

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 2020)

There are countless films that tackles the issue of racism in 20th century America, and 42 is one of the more heart-wrenching that I've seen. Some scenes are enough to make you feel physically ill, not to mention angry and devastated. The story is fascinating, heart-warming (eventually) and well-portrayed, although I found Chadwick Boseman's performance a little flat.
The film is prone to excessive sentimentality at times and isn't helped by a very corny supporting performance from Nicole Behari, who is scarcely believable as Rachel Robinson. There are plenty of times when it feels like the underlying message is being forced down your throat, which is completely unnecessary and a little tiresome.
Regardless, this is an interesting movie that serves as a very confronting reminder of how grotesque racism can be. Not a classic but well worth watching.