41 2013

 

     This film is a historical sports drama and biopic about the 1947 baseball season when the first black Major League player was signed.  Jackie Robinson was number 42 and hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey.  Robinson faced ugly and vicious racism from the other clubs, fans and at times, his own players.  Rickey asks Robinson not to fight back and let his athletic talent speak for itself.  Soon, in his first year, he becomes one of the most popular players on the team.  Eventually, he became Rookie of the Year.

     This is a very good and enjoyable film.  Ford plays an entirely different character.  Everything seems real about what is happening.  I really thought this was good.  4* (I really liked this movie)

128 min, Drama directed by Brian Helgeland with Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, Hamish Linklater,  T.R. Knight, John C. McGinley, Toby Huss, Max Gail, Brady Beyer, James Pickens Jr.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 7.5 out of 10, 79% critic 86% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Special Note:  There is a scene with the Philadelphia Phillies manager really spewing a tirade against Robinson.  Leo Durocher, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers was suspended for a year for an affair with a married actress.  Ben Chapman of the Phillies was just told to “knock it off?”  As an outfielder with the Yankees, Chapman taunted Jewish fans with anti-Semitic slurs and a Nazi salute.