42 (2013)

A couple years ago, I saw a little movie called The Help and gave it a middle-of-the-road review pointing out its pros and cons with little excitement or pleasure. At first glance, it had rubbed me the wrong way. Later, I included it in my top ten movies of the year. I initially resent most new race dramas because they have a tendency to think that their audience is made of prejudiced idiots that need to be taught a lesson. I walked out of The Help feeling like I had been punished for a crime I didn’t commit, but with repeat viewings I warmed up to the movie’s earnest storytelling. It was a great entertainment. The new movie 42 reminded me of The Help because it uses the same style to deliver its color-blind message: shouting it as loud as possible. This is drama with a capital D and I know there are many who will not be able to sit still through all of its two hours. For those who are in the right mindset, however, it can be a truly uplifting and captivating experience. This time, I happened to be in the right mindset.

42 tells the story of black baseball player Jackie Robinson as he becomes the first African American to play the game professionally back in 1947. The movie covers his rise to fame in the first season of his playing, complete with all the racist horrors that haunted these games. There is one extended scene that will make any decent person extremely uncomfortable and it is one of the essential moments that make the film successful. It features character actor Alan Tudyk, usually accustomed to playing nice guys, in a small and thankless role that he gives such venomous gusto it simply has to be seen. In terms of performance, he steals the show during his brief screen time and Harrison Ford takes care of the rest. I’m sure Ford will be getting lots of attention for his performance here because it is a fun, well-written character that is delivered with a potent exuberance. Ford is so much fun to watch, we can easily forgive the fact that all other, more somber characters are rather wooden in comparison.

As a biography of Jackie Robinson the ball player, the movie will surely disappoint. As an Old Hollywood-style story of racial injustice being overcome by goodness with all manner of flourish, it exceeds expectations. It reminded me so much in tone, pace and presentation of a movie straight out of the late 40s that perhaps I enjoyed it more than many modern viewers might. I am already hearing complaints that 42 is over the top, that the performances lack depth, that the music is overbearing, that the dialogue is laughable. All of these criticisms can be overlooked if the movie is seen not through a modern-day eye, but as an attempt to return to a theatrical style of filmmaking to get across its point abrasively rather than with kid gloves. It’s true that I typically don’t have racist thoughts until I see a movie like this, but here is one example of a movie that works best when spelling out morality. For writing and directing the first movie of 2013 that I can heartily recommend, Brian Helgeland has won me over.

9/10