42: A Well Thought Out, Moving Tribute

Released this week, 42 taps into the world of baseball—an all-American sport that was once thought to be free of racial politics. It’s 1945, and the U.S. has just won a battle against fascism in Germany but struggles to address racial inequality at home. While many people want to consider sports as a neutral ground where all people can grab a beer and root for their teams, baseball turns out to be a critical stage for addressing social inequality and exploring why certain groups are excluded to make way for the majority race or ethnicity.

Some people might find 42 to be safe and a tad predictable, but the film’s inspirational dialogue, strong characterization, and cohesive narrative allow the film to flourish within and even transcend the genre of sports drama. Even when dealing with serious issues of racism and violence, the film tempers it by showcasing the triumphs and incisive commentary from each of the characters.

The film opens with African American sportswriter Wendall Smith (Andre Holland), who situates viewers into his world with a concise historical account. After serving their country during World War II, African American men find themselves marginalized everywhere—from work opportunities to the use of public facilities. African American men have historically been excluded from the Major League baseball. Against his staff’s wishes, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), Team Executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers, decides that it is time to bring in an African American ballplayer into Major League baseball. He finds a strong, tough, and talented enough candidate in Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), who is playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of Negro League baseball. Rickey strikes a connection with Robinson, as he touches upon their Methodist roots to explain the importance of not fighting back and instead, turning one’s cheek. Robinson impresses Rickey and the coaches with his excellent batting average, his fielding, and most of all his exceptional speed. Even still, Robinson faces immense resistance and dissent from a significant part of the audience but also from his team members and their opponents. With the support of Rickey, his wife Rachel (Nicole Beharie), and Wendall, Robinson sets out to pursue his dreams of leading the Brooklyn Dodgers to victory.

I appreciate how the film did not dwell on the terrible and ugly incidents of racial violence and prejudice. While it boldly illustrates incidents that are emotionally stirring and disturbing, the movie never felt like a dreary and depressing list, which is what a lot of biopics risk becoming. The movie balances emotionally turbulent scenes with moments of victory and joy, especially in Robinson’s tender moments with Rachel or his son. Robinson becomes such an inspiration to all people across the nation, breaking racial barriers along the way. Also depicted is how even bystanders, people who would originally watch and not do anything, could change their minds and become supportive. This optimism enhances this film’s uplifting qualities.

Heigeland’s script masterfully shows how baseball is not only a physical game but a mental and psychological game of endurance and focus. Throughout the film, there are many people that seek to thwart Robinson’s focus, but his eye constantly remains on stealing that base or hitting that long ball or home run. The film demonstrates Robinson’s endurance and focus when he successfully “discombobulates” an aggressive pitcher by continuing to steal bases. Baseball serves as a great metaphor for Robinson’s entire situation—people are always scheming to get him out. As a batter running from one base to another, he always has to be swift and strategic in negotiating such a hostile environment.

The script is deceptively simple and very well-organized. Instead of having multiple disconnected subplots (as many works these days have), the film provides each character, even the supporting and minor characters, with compelling lines that interconnect. Even the supporting characters, such as Wendall, have great moments where they inspire confidence and strength in Robinson, who sometimes does not seem as aware of the significance of his position as other people are. For example, Wendell explains that he sees Robinson’s track record as influencing African Americans’ access to different facilities and occupations—Wendell dreams of being able to sit in the press box with the other sportswriters.

Robinson, well-played by Boseman, felt like a well-developed and believable hero because he isn’t perfect. He struggles with accepting help from others and controlling his quick temper, especially in the face of fierce and humiliating opposition. He exudes genuine charisma, tenacity, and focus, so much so that not only his coaches but the movie’s larger audience truly believes in his power to overcome these challenges.

Ford convincingly portrays Rickey, who becomes sort of a mentor-figure to Robinson and serves as the voice of reason in this film. One memorable moment is when Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) expresses discomfort with getting hate mail from Kentucky citizens for playing on the same team as Robinson. Rickey pulls the perfect tongue-in-cheek move by pulling out piles and piles of hate mail addressed to Robinson and ridicules Reese’s complaints about being called a carpetbagger in one piece of mail. Rickey explains that baseball cannot remain in its insular state and must answer to the changes going on in the real world. This message rings throughout, calling for all arenas of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, or politics to reflect the changes that are actually happening in society.

There were so many emotionally visceral parts in the film, especially as Robinson encounters intense heckling and abuse as a star player on the Brooklyn Dodgers team. It is tremendously uplifting and eye-opening to witness how not only Robinson grows from this experience but how his other team members, particularly Pee Wee Reese and Eddie Stankey (Jesse Luken), eventually learn how to stand up for injustices on the field and support their stellar teammate. At one point, one of the characters expresses regret for not standing up for another marginalized black player of the past and inadvertently perpetuating this cycle of oppression. The movie makes a point that ignoring the inevitable—the need to break barriers—is not an option, and one has to accept the changes of the times.

All in all, 42 would be a great choice for those who love uplifting sports dramas. Even for those who are not familiar with sports but are interested in history and social inequality should check out this film.