MYST Post #6: 42

For my final MYST post, I watched 42. Although somewhat understated due to the grand opening and fuss surrounding the Great Gatsby, 42 proved to be a quite enjoyable film. It is in fact, a true story based on the life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson.  For those who do not know, Jackie Robinson first made a name for himself in the Negro Leagues. Yet, due to segregation laws at the time, integration within baseball was still an unheard of phenomenon. However, because of Jackie’s outstanding character as well as his undeniable talent, the team executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey, decided to make the unprecedented decision to bring up an African American player. Hence, the film goes into great depth surrounding the different challenges that Robinson faces in becoming the first African American ever in Major League Baseball.  Although the journey was certainly not easy, and the risk involved was high, this film tells the story of a true American hero and trailblazer.

Throughout this film there were many great performances. For example, Harrison Ford gave a heartfelt and powerful performance as Branch Rickey. Throughout the entire film, Rickey remains an unshakable pillar of support and justice for Jackie Robinson. He is not afraid to speak his mind when it comes to the respect that he demands Robinson be treated with. Unlike many at the time, Rickey has moved on from the common ideals of segregation that so many still cling to. He treats Jackie fairly, and refuses to let the color of his skin interfere with his ability to prosper playing the game that he loves. 

Chadwick Boseman also played a very believable Jackie Robinson. One of the things that I liked about his acting in this piece was his subtlety. Boseman’s commanding presence on-screen warranted very little dialogue seeing as he had so expertly managed to capture the body language and persona of his role. Although he is known mostly for his work with television, from watching this film, I would say that Boseman is definitely an actor to watch out for. His ability to connect with his role and the audience contributed greatly to the realistic quality of the film.

In terms of the cinematography and editing, I thought that the film was also very successful. For instance, as in most sports related movies, the action scenes tend to stand out and be of high importance. This film is no exception. When Jackie Robinson was on base, one of the things that he was known for was his ability to steal bases and get into the pitcher’s head. Thus, each time the opportunity presented itself, these scenes were given special emphasis. In order to truly help the viewers to become lost in the game, a close up was usually given of Jackie Robinson. From this, viewers gain an uninterrupted view of either Robinson’s darting eyes or restless feet that help to initiate the idea that something important is about to happen. Also, in these scenes, another technique used was the jump cut. For instance, the camera would go back and forth between Robinson’s teasing eyes to the pitcher’s frustrated glance. This was important because it helped to highlight Jackie’s unique ability to play the game from an angle that was different from most other players. As soon as Jackie reached first base, he entered into a mind game with the pitcher testing the limits of his luck as well as the pitcher’s patience.

In all, I think that 42 is a story of perseverance, heroism, and character that reaches beyond the level of sports. There were certain points within this movie that I was both moved to tears as well as at the edge of my seat in excitement. It is most definitely a film that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all. In fact, it is somewhat shocking to me that it has taken so long for this historic milestone to be covered on film. I give 42 a 98%.