42: A Story Worth Remembering

By Jaanu

I’ve grown up on stories of Jackie Robinson’s trailblazing and incredible career with the Dodgers. His passion, determination, patience, and incredible talent are easy to feel through a history book. The movie 42 makes his heroism, and that of legendary Dodgers executive Branch Rickey fully come to life.

It is difficult to understand the prejudice Robinson faced as the first Black man to play for Major League Baseball. Rickey was bitterly criticized for his decision to integrate baseball. Though much pain and difficulty was faced by the men, the action went a very long way in making baseball what it is today.

The acting of Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford (Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey respectively) supersedes description in this film. I loved this movie because it makes it possible to relive those days of the Dodgers. It’s heartwarming because good triumphs and noble people set good examples that made all of baseball and as a result all of America take note.

Pee Wee Reese, who served in the Navy during World War II, who was the captain of the Dodgers and refused to sign the petition to boot Jackie off the team, is shown at his best. So is Dodger Ralph Branca. It’s a film of many legends, and deeply deserving of a watch.

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