42 - 8 stars out of 10

42 - 8 stars out of 10

"42" is the no-details-spared portrayal of Jackie Robinson's racial struggles as he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.  With great acting from top to bottom, the cast goes beyond the script to make a thematic statement.  Chadwick Boseman comes out of nowhere to nail this starring role, bringing the attitude and emotion necessary to create a believable Jackie Robinson.  His outburst in the dugout tunnel is chilling.  Harrison Ford steps away from his typical roles to play Branch Rickey, nearly unrecognizable through his age and accent.  It would be easy for this role to be lost but Ford turns him into a hero.  I can't decide if it is the acting or the script, but Alan Tudyk's scene as the taunting Phillies manager Ben Chapman was incredibly effective, filling me with rage toward the bigotry in this world.  It is difficult to listen to all of the n-words throughout this film but the script captures an important part of American history and I think that it brings attention to the need for this prejudice to disappear from our society today.  Whether you are a lover of baseball or simply a movie fan, "42" is a home run.