42

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am not a baseball fan...in any way, shape or form...so when my folks wanted to go see 42, the new movie about Jack Robinson (the first black major league baseball player), I was less then enthused at the prospect. That being said...I really enjoyed the movie.

With its all-star cast including Harrison Ford, Christopher Meloni, Alan Tudyk and Brett Cullen, 42 was definitely a well cast movie. Chadwick Boseman, who has mostly been on TV as opposed to in movies, played Jackie Robinson and did quite an excellent job. And I was a huge fan of Rachel Robinson (Jackie's loving and supportive wife), played by Nicole Beharie...I want to be her when I grow up. :)

While definitely a sports movie with plenty of time spent on baseball practice or game play, it's also a drama due to the underlying storyline of a man, a couple, the team and hard-hearted racism. There is a particularly uncomfortable scene highlighting racism that is very hard/painful to watch. During a game, the manager on the other team (played by Alan Tudyk) is making inappropriate comments and hurling racial slurs at Jackie while he's trying to bat. Being a part of a generation who was brought up to know how wrong and unkind it is to say such things, it was difficult to listen to and (rightfully) made you feel for Jackie Robinson, having to endure such hatred and anger.

If you're a baseball fan or are just looking for a good movie to see in the next couple of weeks, I would definitely recommend you considering going to see 42.

~ Katie