Homerun

Review: 42

Producing a film based on historic events is always a calculated risk. Audiences are familiar and therefore more comfortable with the material, so your advertising campaign starts off on a much stronger footing than a film with an entirely foreign concept; you are more guaranteed to make money. However, since your story already happened, everyone knows how it ends.

It is the struggle of historical films then to overcome their predictability with strong, engaging content; to enrapture audiences along the journey as you transport them to the expected outcome. A recent failure to accomplish this would be the drab Lincoln, a recent success would be the compelling Zero Dark Thirty. The new Jackie Robinson biopic, 42, can be placed squarely in the category of... (drum-roll, please)... success.

Writer/director Brian Helgeland obviously knew 42 was a tale of inspiration and he filmed it as such from start to finish. This is not a prideful enterprise, however, but a humble acknowledgement that something truly exceptional happened in the life of the first African American to play in the modern era of major league baseball; a respectful endeavor to tell a story which deserves and needs to be told. Directing with such an attitude does minimize nuance and character dynamism, but maximizes the spirit of the film and the direct strength of its message.

Exemplifying this affect is 42's protagonist, brought to life by Hollywood newcomer Chadwick Boseman, who does a fantastic job here, carrying himself as someone who is not just a stand-in for the actual Robinson, but as an actor capable of greatness and ready to showcase his talents. His full range simmers

under the surface in the film, bubbling over only once or twice, confined to a character written as strong, but mostly silent and static.

There's an invisible, mutually-understood-to-exist halo over Boseman's head in 42, which prevents us from exploring the horns Robinson assuredly also had - as we all do. Yet, the character's one-dimensionality allows him to represent more just a man, but an idea, one so revolutionary that it overwhelms any sins of the individual, purifying him to be the symbol of a noble cause. In 42, Robinson is not just a ballplayer, but he is equality incarnate. Does the film's character development suffer for this? Yes. But it decreases so that the message may increase.

Bolstering this transcendence is Harrison Ford (Cowboys & Aliens) as Brooklyn Dodgers' executive Branch Rickey. He growls out his lines in typical grouchy-old-man fashion, but subtly accomplishes more in small smiles and puffs of a cigar and shakes of his head than he has in decades. This is Ford at his very best.

A strong supporting cast consists of Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU), John C. McGinley (Scrubs), and Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball), although Tudyk's character did verge a bit too close for my liking on the edge of caricature. But the character I most fell in love with was Nicole Beharie (Woman Thou Art Loosed) as Rachel Robinson. She's beautiful and funny and we'll get married one day and be happier than anyone ever. Too much? Sorry. But seriously, she really is very good and stole - in my own biased opinion - each scene she graced.

42 does have its problems, though. As mentioned earlier, it struggles with character depth and generalizations. And for a film that could have had more character complexity, it is also a film that is much longer than necessary, running over 2 hours. It is not as laborious as, again, Lincoln for example, but there were certainly scenes which could have been cut or at least replaced with opportunities for Boseman to round out his character.

Yet 42 is still a strong film, more closely resembling the serious works Helgeland has written (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River) than the rather vapid movies he has directed (Payback, A Knight's Tale). It is inspiring, interesting, and engaging, with standout performances and "a commitment to the notion that ennobling sentiment and entertainment can co-exist" (Corey Hall).

Overall, 42 doesn't knock it entirely out of the park, but does accomplish a solid triple hit and for some people might even steal home plate.

The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Go buy a ticket and consider buying the DVD.