Sunday, April 14, 2013

Movie Review: 42

Dena and I caught the based-on-a-true-story movie about Jackie Robinson, the first black player in major league baseball.

Like many sports-themed movies, it's not primarily about baseball. At least not the game of baseball; the all-white culture of baseball and the segregation of America toward "colored" people was a fierce barrier to break. Leading the charge was Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford), who sheltered him figuratively and literally. The story of hardened personalities being turned (and in the background, the Dodgers making it to the World Series), and children being inspired by the man who turned a blind eye to drawersful of death threats, is a classic one.

If you like orchestra music you'd be hard-pressed to find one with more volume. Yes, it was a little campy in places, but if the point is to walk out of the theater feeling a fresh and happy perspective on life and the victory of the human spirit, you'll have found the right place.

1 comment:

Dan O. said...

It gets you happy and inspirational, even if you aren’t a fan of baseball. Good review Joe.