By Alana Garrett

Reporter

The movie “42” doesn’t just tell a life story. It evokes emotions.

Jackie Robinson, an American hero, has been idolized and praised as one of the first African-American baseball players. However, the movie “42” doesn’t just show Jackie Robinson as a hero, it shows him as a legend.

The film was written and directed by Brian Helgeland, who also wrote the film remake of “Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.” The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, the man who changed baseball forever.

Boseman and Ford provide the film with excellent on screen chemistry and phenomenal acting.

They both show Rickey and Robinson’s unexpected, but touching, friendship.

The film’s scenes show the ugliness of racism in America, and you’re put in Robinson’s place. You feel Robinson’s frustration when he is being heckled and called the N-word during the games.

You see his struggle as he holds back his anger when a pitcher aims the ball for his head. And you see his joy when his fans cheer him on as he hits a home run. Throughout the film, the Dodgers grow as a team, they go from alienating Robinson to accepting him as a teammate and friend. You see the bond that he forms with his Brooklyn Dodgers teammates like Eddie Stanky and Pee Wee Reese.

Although the film has many emotional scenes, there are a lot of sports/action scenes as well. During the film, I found myself wanting to slide to the bases with Robinson or hit a homerun.

Overall the movie “42” was a very inspirational film that showed America at its worst and best. It allowed viewers to feel some of what Robinson felt at this time and showed that his path to the hall of fame wasn’t an easy one. “42” is a film anyone of any race, ethnicity, or gender can enjoy.

5/5