Ask anyone who knows me well to describe Stan the Man and they will probably classify yours truly as a charming, thoughtful and intelligent sort, with a combination looks/strength package that can only be found in the likes of a Bruce Willis or Vin Diesel.
OK, so nobody has actually quite described me in those terms.........LIKE EVER.....NOT IN MY LIFETIME. I do like to think of myself as mostly manly, however, as I can lift 50 pounds with not much of a struggle, can change a tire (with some assistance) and can kill most any type of bug. But sit me down to watch any sports movie and it's a totally different story. Like my good friend Adam Stocks of Pell City said, I suddenly turn into a weepy, 67-year-old woman.
Whether they admit it or not, every guy probably has somewhat of an emotional or sensitive side. I freely admit that I have a big heart, and it usually shows when I am watching an iconic sports flick such as The Natural, Rudy, Hoosiers, Remember the Titans or We Are Marshall.
So I pretty much knew what I was in for this past weekend when I went to see 42, the biopic by Brian Helgeland celebrating Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, and his turbulent journey toward breaking the color barrier of the National Pasttime. Today, by the way, is the 66th anniversary of Robinson's grand achievement, which is why all big league players are wearing the No. 42 on their respective jerseys for today's games.
As expected, the movie brought tears to my eyes, especially during a triumphant home-run trot late in the movie by Robinson, played in superb fashion by Chadwick Boseman, but what was even better for me is that the movie not only lived up to the really good reviews that preceded Friday's official opening date, but actually surpassed them. I, with no hesitation, can say that 42 is already in the class with any sports film I have ever seen, and this includes baseball wonders such as The Natural, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and Eight Men Out among others. Obviously the good word spread quickly about Helgeland's masterpiece as the movie opened up as No. 1 in the box offices in its first week.
Of course when a director begins to pursue doing any type of sports movie, especially one that addresses such a significant point of history, not only for the sport of baseball, but such a pivotal one for our nation's history period in terms of racial progress, it is interesting to see whether the story will be clouded out and overshadowed by Hollywoodism, hokey cliches and "artistic license."
There is no doubt that any type of sports movie produced on a huge scale is going to have its share of dramatic cliches, thunderous music and spectacular production, camera angles and special effects. This movie is no different in that regard.
What is refreshing, however, about 42 is that Helgeland allows most of the story of this movie to be told through the great acting of a superb cast and the very realistic baseball action scenes shot in historic venues such as Chattanooga's Engel Stadium and Birmingham's Rickwood Field.
While Boseman should be praised and awarded for his expert portrayal of the legendary and iconic Robinson, equal praise should also go to Harrison Ford for his excellent work as Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who brings Robinson to the big leagues despite the tumultuous waves of racial disharmony and segregation that still rocked the nation especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Robinson's debut was on April 15, 1947.
Of course Ford is an icon in his own right, having played legendary roles such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and also having starred in so many other classic such as The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger, Air Force One and Witness.
The movie 42, however, may prove to be one of the longest lasting testaments to Ford's acting greatness as he puts forth an emotional, realistic and powerful turn as the innovative figure who helped to change the face of baseball forever. His performance is even more impressive when you read interviews with the actor, who admitted he knew nothing about Rickey until he read the movie's script,and really is not even all that familiar with the game of baseball.
While Boseman and Ford largely carry the movie, the supporting cast that includes Nicole Beharie (Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson's wife), Christopher Meloni (Leo Durocher), Lucas Black (Pee Wee Reese), Andre Holland (Wendell Smith) and Alan Tydyk (Ben Chapman) also contributes heavily during many pivotal scenes of the film.
Of course even the greatest set of effects, scripts, shooting locales and actors are of little value if there is not a good story to tell.
Helgeland is to be first commended for having the vision and courage to put a modern spin on the story of Jackie Robinson, as the tale of this baseball pioneer had not been produced in movie form since Robinson portrayed himself in The Jackie Robinson Story in 1950.
Secondly, he is to also be lauded for writing a script and putting together a cast which would deliver the story of Robinson's achievements in a realistic, respectable and classy manner. Helgeland achieved all of the above in fine form, and for that, all of us who love baseball, sports or just good, well-acted and well-scripted films are winners for being able to enjoy this instant classic.
Admittedly, it is not always an easy story to digest, as the overriding theme of racism that Robinson had to endure on a daily basis, even from some of his own teammates, obviously comprises a huge portion of the film.
But one of the greatest elements of a great sports movie is the portrayal of a figure, or a team that is able to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve greatness. The film does a compelling job in showing how the taunts that Robinson faced not only helped him to become a stronger person and athlete in the end, but also how it helped to eventually bring his team closer together and how it helped teammates such as Reese to not only accept Robinson as their teammate but also as their friend.
You have to hand it to those Hollywood types in that regard as they know just how to work your heartstrings, and it always works, whether it be Field of Dreams when John Kinsella asks his dad for a game of catch, in Rudy when Sean Astin's Rudy Ruettiger finally makes it on the field, make a big play and later gets carried off the field while his family watches in legedary Notre Dame Stadium, and in 42, when Reese puts his arms around Robinson and tells him that the whole team may just wear the No. 42 the next day so other teams won't be able to tell them apart.
The flair for the dramatic, those warm and fuzzy moments, a great script, a great cast and action between the lines that actually looks realistic and believable.
It takes all of the above to produce a classic sports movie that will stand the test of time.
Fortunately 42 has all of the above ingredients, and I look forward to seeing it again many times in the future.
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