Movie Critique
“42” Movie Critique The movie “42” is based on the life story of Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey. The movie was released on April 12, 2013. The rating of the movie is PG-13 because of some vulgar language used to depict the extremity of persecution that Jackie Robinson undertook in his career of baseball. The estimated running time of the movie is one-hundred twenty eight minutes. Warner Brothers Entertainment and Legendary Pictures both contributed to production of the film. “42” managed to break the box office by making over 95,000,000 dollars. The director and writer, Mr. Brian Helgeland, was obviously successful at making this film. “42” chronicles Jackie Robinson's introduction to Major League Baseball and his rookie year on the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Not really a biopic, and not really a sports movie, the Brian Helgeland creation suffers from a lack of focus. The core problem with 42 is that there was no definite goal for the protagonists to accomplish, and no clear antagonist trying to stop them. Both Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) and Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) play the role of protagonist. Branch Rickey was the “push” that Jackie needed in order to fulfill his career in what they called “white man’s ball.” Mr. Rickey quotes that Jackie must “have the guts to turn the other cheek.” These words helped re-establish hope in Jackie Robinson. Though the film didn’t have clarity on who the antagonist(s) were, as the observer it is obvious that Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) and Dixie Walker (Ryan Merriman) were what could be known as the rivals or enemies of Jackie Robinson. Neither agreed with his acceptance into Major League Baseball. Ben Chapman tended to antagonize Jackie in any ways possible whether it be with words or actions. Dixie Walker demonstrated acts of antagonizing by blaming Jackie for their inability to stay in the hotel in Philadelphia. Ben Chapman, the major antagonist, managed to solidify and unite the Brooklyn Dodgers. The genre of the film would be known as a biography, drama, and sports film. In 1946, Jackie Robinson was a Negro League baseball player who never took racism to be acceptable. Branch Rickey was a Major League team executive with a bold idea. To that end, Rickey recruited Robinson to break the unspoken color line as the first modern African American Major League player. As both anticipate, this proves a major challenge for Robinson and his family as they endured unrelenting racist hostility on and off the field, from players and fans alike. As Jackie struggles against his nature to endure such abuse without complaint, he managed to find allies and hope where he least expected it. The plot is described in chronological order starting from Jackie Robinson’s beginning into Major League Baseball to his mid-season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The quality of the film is a new idea based on and old legend. Brian Helgeland gives a fresh approach at the legendary accomplishments of an outstanding African American Major League Baseball player. The film at first is narrated by an African American news writer. The longer the film ran the more it became dramatized. The resolution of the film couldn’t have been more perfect. Jackie Robinson was finally accepted by the media, Ben Chapman, and most importantly his fellow team mates. The