By Kevin Spak The Jackie Robinson biopic 42 slides into theaters today, and it’s being greeted by a polite ovation from critics, who for the most part seem to admire Robinson’s story more than the filmmaking. Here’s what people are saying: If director Brian Helgeland‘s “intention was to tell Jackie’s story in a…
From: http://www.newser.com/story/166135/for-better-or-worse-42-is-safe.html
By Jim Vejvoda
The life story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball, comes to the big screen in director Brian Helgeland‘s 42, a touching, but conventional biopic that never quite sheds its TV movie trappings.
Chadwick Boseman plays Robinson, who in 1947 gets the chance to break the color barrier in baseball when Brooklyn Dodgers boss Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) gradually brings him up through the farm system and finally signs him to play for the Dodgers.
Rickey’s motives are not entirely egalitarian as he says there’s money to be made from black baseball fans and how he wants his team to win championships. But the motives of Rickey, a devout Christian, are gradually revealed to also be more personal as the story progresses.
From: http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ign/movies-reviews/~3/AdzPkiAEZiM/42-review
By hnn
LOS ANGELES — There’s a scene in “42” in which Jackie Robinson, the first black player in modern Major League Baseball, endures intolerably cruel racial slurs from the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager.
It’s early in the 1947 season. Each time the Brooklyn Dodgers’ first baseman comes up to bat, manager Ben Chapman emerges from the dugout, stands on the field and taunts him with increasingly personal and vitriolic attacks. It’s a visible struggle, but No. 42 maintains his composure before a crowd of thousands.
As a viewer, it’s uncomfortable to watch — although as writer-director Brian Helgeland points out, “if anything, the language we have in that scene was cleaned up from what it was.”…
Source: FULL ARTICLE at History News Network – George Mason University
By <a href="/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a>
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the “42” film workshop in the State Dining Room of the White House, April 2, 2013. Workshop participants included, from left, Brian Helgeland, Chad Boseman, Harrison Ford, Rachel Robinson, and moderator Paulette Aniskoff.
(Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
First Lady Michelle Obama today hosted 80 high school and college students from across the country for a screening of “42,” followed by an interactive workshop with the cast and crew of the movie. “42” tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the very first African American to play major league baseball. The panel was moderated by Paulette Aniskoff, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and featured Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman and Brian Helgeland.
The discussion focused on the inspirational themes from Robinson's life that students — who came from Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, DC; Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, MD; TC Williams High School in Alexandria, VA and Amino Jackie Robinson Charter High School in Los Angeles, CA — can apply to their own.
Also joining the conversation was Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson's widow and his partner throughout his incredible life's journey. And as Mrs. Obama explained to the young crowd, Mrs. Robinson's example can be their guide. “Jackie and Rachel Robinson weren't destined for greatness — they prepared themselves for greatness, which meant that they could make a difference outside of baseball, as well. And that is the only thing that is important for you to understand. You can be great in your profession, you can earn a lot of money, you can be famous, but the question is what are you doing for others.”
