The ugly, the really ugly, then some good and guts not to fight back

Rating: 8/10 (3 May 2016)

42 42 | Directed by Brian Hegleland | Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford
42 is a movie that takes us back into a time when you both feel shame and encouraged. "I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back." This is a line in the movie 42, which is said by Branch Rickey, who is played by Harrison Ford, which sets the whole mood of this motion picture, which takes a look at the first season Jackie Robison played in the Major Leagues. Jackie Robinson, played by Chadwick Boseman, was an African American who was the first player to cross the color line of a white only baseball. The movie uses many unique techniques to take a monumental moment and cram it into a 2 hour motion picture. The camera angles used so you could see every emotion of Jackie's face throughout his struggles really tells the story of how challenging it really was to take on the task of "having guts not fight back." The editor did an excellent job of cutting us from point A to point B, and focusing in on the highlights that really let you feel the emotions of Jackie Robinson. When you see the battle of what he endured you find it hard to not really invest in what he went through and almost find yourself pulling for that next big hit or stolen base. Branch Rickey's (Ford) character I think added a value to the film that was indispensable. His gusto and sometimes light heartedness helped pull Jackie through allot of the tough times. While the movie I felt could have touched on allot more topics and struggles of his life, I felt it did a good job of showing what the beginning was like. The quickest baseball season ever from the movies standpoint, but it leaves you wondering if 2 hours only captured a few games, then what was the whole season like. So while I felt shame watching this movie, seeing the level of hate that existed, I also feel encouragement that there are people out there like Jackie Robinson who can help us push through issues and change with any situation.