42

I have to be honest. I love baseball movies more than I like baseball. We have many friends that are passionate baseball fans and I totally understand their devotion to the sport - that's how we feel about basketball in this house! When I first saw the trailers for 42 I knew that I HAD to see it. It's an important story and I'm really surprised that it took so long for the film to be made.

The movie is based on the true story of Jackie Robinson. I knew he was important to the game of baseball but didn't realize that he was the first black player to play on an all white team. I wonder how accurately the movie portrayed Jackie's struggles against racism and segregation in the late 1940's. Parts of the movie were difficult to watch because of how freely the "N" word was used against Jackie. It's an important history lesson about civil rights and the indignities that black Americans suffered.

Chadwick Boseman is the actor who wonderfully portrayed the bravery of Jackie Robinson. I was most surprised by Harrison Ford who played Branch Rickey. Usually when I see a movie with Harrison Ford in it, I always think of him as Han Solo or Indiana Jones playing the role. Not this time. He was perfect as the gruff, curmudgeonly owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who decided to shake up the game of baseball by bringing Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers. There was no sign of Han or Indy here. He was great!

You must see this movie! I believe that it will become one of the classic sports movies like Pride of the Yankees, Raging Bull, Rudy, The Natural or Hoosiers.