Movie Review: “42”

OVERALL: Oh wow. So good. So sweet. So, oh gosh darn it, heartwarming. It felt so good to see this movie. I loved it.

POINTS: Celebrating the legend and history of this wonderful American hero, Jackie Robinson. The movie had a loving eye and Robinson was shown to have incredible strength to withstand the abuse he received. In the movie I kept wanting to say “Remember Martlin Luther King!” and then reminding myself that MLK hadn’t started marching yet.

PITFALLS: None. I really hope Helgeland makes a movie about Harriett Tubman now. 🙂

FEMALE CHARACTER(S): Well yes! First off Director Brian Helgeland likes cool women. (Ever seen “A Knight’s Tale“?) So his women tend to be articulate, thoughtful, and gutsy. Rachel Robinson was well portrayed by Nicole Beharie. She was truly a rock as well as warm and compassionate and smart. Loved her. Very glad she was an actual person and not just a female trope of “supportive wife.” Very nice.

CULTURAL PITFALL(S): Hmmm… None. Good grief it was a movie about how Jackie Robinson make it into white baseball and changed the game – and helped change the American landscape. HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I swear to God/Dess that I would probably have been put in jail in the ’60s for using Colored bathrooms, fountains, seats, etc. That disgusts me and I’m glad I don’t have to see that filth anymore. I’m glad for us all.

HIGH POINT(S): *SPOILERS* 1) I loved the conversation between Rachel and another woman in the Ladies Room where Rachel discovers she is pregnant. 2) I love babies so I loved see the sweet little baby that played the Robinson’s baby. Oh so cute!!!! END *SPOILERS* 3) Harrison Ford. He should get an Oscar nod. Well done sir. Hubby agrees, BTW. 4) LOVE the poster!!! I love how when you look at in portrait view it looks like Robinson is fist pumping in victory and when in landscape view you can see is sliding in to be safe. Check it out by looking at the poster below. 🙂 5) Chadwick Boseman’s beautiful portrayal of Jackie Robinson. Boseman has a warm energy on the screen that permeates out to the audience. More of him please. He is worthy of stardom. 6) Andre Holland’s beautiful portrayal of an African-American journalist who wasn’t allowed to sit with his white counterparts. 7) Robinson sitting up after receiving a baseball to the head due to a malicious throw from the other team, and seeing his teammates fight for him. He was surrounded by white men fighting for him. Very cool. 7) Watching people’s racist misconceptions fade away. May they keep fading and fade forever.

LION PAW PRINTS: 4 of 5. A well crafted movie that everyone should see. Oh and don’t forget to wear 42 sometime. 🙂 Jackie Robinson Day happens each year: Jackie Robinson Day.

SPECIAL NOTE: In the book and movie The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, as given by the powerful computer Deep Thought is 42. 🙂 Coincidence? I think not! Somehow this seems appropriate to me. 🙂

Chick Flicking Reviews