42
2.5 stars out of 4
By Brett Takeshita
It's amazing to see a Jackie Robinson movie finally being made. After all, Jackie is one of the most important and well-respected athletes -- baseball or not -- of all time. So, a movie about the legend was bound to happen at some point. So, how does 42 fare? It's completely fine. But, unfortunately, it's nothing more.
42 isn't a full biopic in that it does not tell the whole story of Jackie's life. It only focuses on a couple significant years of his life. The movie begins with narration by Wendell Smith (Andre Holland) in the mid-1940s, who gives the audience some historical background and context on what is happening at the time, and what is happening in baseball. We then learn that Jackie (Chadwick Boseman) is an extraordinary baseball player in college. Branch Rickey (an almost unrecognizable Harrison Ford) is the executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He wants to do something radical, something that will forever change baseball. He signs Jackie, the first African American baseball player, to the team. Throughout the course of the film, we see Jackie's highs and lows as he struggles to be accepted -- and respected -- by his teammates and the public.
Writer-Director Brian Helgeland has made a "nice" film that feels very old-fashioned. The narrative is easy to follow, and its non-complicated structure is rather refreshing. It's a by-the-numbers underdog story that hits all the right notes. It makes you sympathize with Jackie and root for him. Then, when he starts killing it in the games, it'll make you want to cheer. The fact that Helgeland knows how to direct exquisite and exciting baseball sequences is a definitely plus. I'd say that the actual baseball sequences themselves are some of the best moments in the film.
To put all of this into simpler times, 42 is like a well made TV movie. It's something you can enjoy with the family because it pulls at your heart strings and teaches everyone an important historical lesson. (The profuse droppings of the n-word might offend some, but I think it's perfectly fine for parents to see this movie with their kids because it is an important conversation-starter, and there is nothing else offensive in this film).
42 does everything you expect it to do. Nothing less and nothing more. This is the biggest flaw with the movie. It plays everything too safe. Sure, it's inspirational and heartwarming, but it isn't that ambitious. It doesn't reach its full potential during the course of its overly long 130-minute runtime. I also disliked the fact that it feels rather manipulative at times. All of the slow-motion mixed with the overbearing score makes for some cringe-inducing moments. I feel that 42 could have been much more effective than it is simply if it took some risks and let the scenes speak for themselves. Perhaps it would have resonated with me more if it attempted to go beyond a normal, inspirational sports movie.
Writer-Director Brian Helgeland has made a "nice" film that feels very old-fashioned. The narrative is easy to follow, and its non-complicated structure is rather refreshing. It's a by-the-numbers underdog story that hits all the right notes. It makes you sympathize with Jackie and root for him. Then, when he starts killing it in the games, it'll make you want to cheer. The fact that Helgeland knows how to direct exquisite and exciting baseball sequences is a definitely plus. I'd say that the actual baseball sequences themselves are some of the best moments in the film.
To put all of this into simpler times, 42 is like a well made TV movie. It's something you can enjoy with the family because it pulls at your heart strings and teaches everyone an important historical lesson. (The profuse droppings of the n-word might offend some, but I think it's perfectly fine for parents to see this movie with their kids because it is an important conversation-starter, and there is nothing else offensive in this film).
42 does everything you expect it to do. Nothing less and nothing more. This is the biggest flaw with the movie. It plays everything too safe. Sure, it's inspirational and heartwarming, but it isn't that ambitious. It doesn't reach its full potential during the course of its overly long 130-minute runtime. I also disliked the fact that it feels rather manipulative at times. All of the slow-motion mixed with the overbearing score makes for some cringe-inducing moments. I feel that 42 could have been much more effective than it is simply if it took some risks and let the scenes speak for themselves. Perhaps it would have resonated with me more if it attempted to go beyond a normal, inspirational sports movie.
42 is a film that many people will eat up. It's a feel-good sports movie that will have you cheering and maybe even shedding a few tears. It's the birth of a star in Chadwick Boseman, who does an incredible job of giving a deeply affecting performance. It boasts an excellent supporting cast filled with many talented and well known actors. It's doing quite well at the box office. Ultimately, it's evident that moviegoers are absolutely loving this movie, due to its extraordinarily rare A+ CinemaScore grade. However, I feel somewhat let down by this film. It's pretty good, but it could have been so much more. Two and a half stars out of four.
No comments:
Post a Comment