Blu-ray Review 42
Directed by: Brian Helgeland Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford Running Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Rating: PG-13 Due Out: July 16, 2013 Own “42” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital Download 7/16
PLOT (courtesy of Warner Bros.): Hero is a word we hear often in sports, but heroism is not always about achievements on the field of play. “42” tells the story of two men – the great Jackie Robinson and legendary Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey – whose brave stand against prejudice forever changed the world by changing the game of baseball.
In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) put himself at the forefront of history when he signed Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team, breaking Major League Baseball's infamous color line. But the deal also put both Robinson and Rickey in the firing line of the public, the press and even other players. Facing unabashed racism from every side, Robinson was forced to demonstrate tremendous courage and restraint by not reacting in kind, knowing that any incident could destroy his and Rickey's hopes. Instead, Number 42 let his talent on the field do the talking – ultimately winning over fans and his teammates, silencing his critics, and paving the way for others to follow.
MOVIE:
For a film about Jackie Robinson, you don't want an old white man stealing the show. That happens here, with Branch Rickey played by Harrison Ford. He's chewing up each scene that he is in. It's entertaining, even though it feels like over-acting coming from Ford. Everything else, beisdes one scene that takes place in Philadelphia, is pretty much by the numbers here. We never get the reason why Jackie is willing and able to pursue these path. He is already the man willing to stand up to injustice when the movie begins. So, it's really just a matter of time until we see what we hopefully already know. For lack of a better term, there's no insider baseball here. We don't know how Jackie deals with this off-season, we just know the difficulties he faced on the field. That brings us back to Philadelphia, when a racist rant Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) is the only truly uncomfortable thing we have to sit through. It's all just OK, which shouldn't be the case for the most important moment in American sports.
MOVIE SCORE: 5/10
EXTRAS “42” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features: · Stepping into History
· Full-Contact Baseball
· The Legacy of the Number 42
“42” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features: · Stepping into History