42

by Tyler Darke

      42 is absolutely the best film of the year so far. It was one of the movies I was looking forward to most this year, and it did not disappoint. The true strength was in the balance of acting genius and terrific screenplay. The two elements came together to create a touching, memorable film that will surely be recognized at the Academy Awards.

      I have seen a number of movies with Harrison Ford, and I've always been impressed by his work. He is obviously an A-list actor who viewers always expect a lot out of. In 42 he delivered a performance that did not meet this expectation, but rather exceeded it. Every aspect of his personality was adapted beautifully to portray Branch Rickey, General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He melted seamlessly into the role, making his character so believable.

      This is the first film I've seen with Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson) but I look forward to seeing more of him. He did a great job portraying a difficult character whose story is familiar to many of us. The challenge was not really in telling the story of Jackie Robinson, but in showing the world the man who Robinson was. Boseman presented a character who was strong and courageous, yet gentle and lovable. We were able to see the contrast between his tough exterior on the baseball field and his kind personality he showed with his wife.

      The success of the screenplay was attributed to its ability to cross the line with offensive dialogue without making that the focus of the film. It was used in select scenes to emphasize the severity of the racial tension at the time, but it did not carry through the entire movie and become distracting. The dialogue between Robinson and his wife was also beautifully done. It showed a loving relationship without seeming cheesy or overdone.

      42 was a wonderfully executed film that deserves a great deal of success. I enjoyed it and can't wait to add it to my movie collection. Go out and watch it while it's still in theaters so you won't have to wait for the DVD! 9/10