42- A Fitting Tribute to both an Iconic Athlete, and a Legendary Actor

Back in 2014, when Kevin Feige revealed several future titles of the ever burgeoning Marvel Cinematic Universe at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, he introduced, on stage, the future King of Wakanda, Prince T’Challa, better known as the Black Panther. The unassuming visage of Chadwick Boseman strolled on stage, acting as a referee between Chris Evans’s Captain America and RDJ’s Iron Man, who were also promoting Captain America Civil War, which would serve as Black Panther’s debut. 

At that time, Boseman was only known for two other roles, as James Brown in Get On Up, and as Jackie Robinson in 42. As a music fan, I of course knew who James Brown was, and having seen Walk Hard- A Dewey Cox Story, I was pretty sure how that Musical Biopic was going to go. However, I only had a passing knowledge of Jackie Robinson at that time, that he was a gifted baseball phenomenon in his time.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a sports fan, but as an Indian (living in India), American Football and Baseball are a bit alien to me. I knew the basic rules of Baseball, as I had played Softball in college for a couple of years, however, understanding stats and history of teams and individual contributors to those teams were lost on me. But sport movies, now that’s another story! From the Rocky series to Remember the Titans, from Rudy to White Men Can’t Jump, American Sports Movies have a special place in my heart. And more often than not, it’s got not much to do with the sport itself, but the emotion behind it. The humility in defeat, the frustration at betrayal, the ecstasy of success, these emotions speak a common language across all walks of life. 

Now, a year after the passing of Chadwick Boseman, I finally had the chance to watch 42 on Netflix. I will always have a soft corner for our King of Wakanda, as Black Panther is easily my wife’s favourite Marvel film. His death was a cruel reminder of the poison called cancer that can plague anyone at any time. Boseman was a special talent, from portraying the king of a technologically advanced African country, to the Godfather of Soul, to a weasely, slippery yet charming but ultimately shattered Levee Green in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (for which he SHOULD HAVE won the posthumous Best Actor Oscar). And yet, his best role, to me, is the one I witnessed last night in 42. 

Boseman plays the iconic Jackie Robinson, the first black athlete to play in Major League Baseball history. At this time in American history, segregation was a contentious point in all walks of life, be it politics, restaurants, hotels and sports. Robinson is a firebrand, who’s quick to temper and threatens revolution at every corner. Harisson Ford plays Branch Rickey, the chief of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, who ruffles many a feather by drafting and contracting Robinson for the Dodgers. The joy with which Harrison emits that Fordian growl, with that twinkle in his eye, brings back memories of his greatest performances! The one caveat that Rickey demands, is that Robinson control his temper on the field. And that’s the crux of Boseman’s performance as Robinson. Controlling that temper, while his eyes scream bloody murder, is for me, the highlight of this performance. 

A standout supporting character is the ever reliable Alan Tudyk as the Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman, who taunts Robinson with such obscenities that would make Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Django Unchained blush. Another exceptional moment in Boseman’s character work was immediately following this scene, when Robinson goes back into the dugout and smashes his bat against the dugout wall. Even though his back is to the camera, and he is almost entirely in silhouette, at that moment, you feel for Robinson. And not just sympathize, but empathize. Every time you felt you were unfairly treated by your boss, bullied in school, or even been racially abused, you felt it at that moment. 

Though the performances across the board were mesmerizing, there were some parts lacking in this film. Brian Helgeland, who wrote and directed this film, and is better known writing the screenplays for the masterpieces LA Confidential and Mystic River, is, for lack of a better term, a bit obvious in his directing style. At times, the screenplay feels a touch manipulative, following a set formula that granted, works, but feels tired. Characters don’t have conversations as much as they perform sermons. And other than a few standouts, most of the character work of the teammates is lacking. The idea of these kind of sport films is that the team rallies around the one that’s different, like Rudy, or they learn to work together for the greater good, (a la Remember the Titans). But there was very little focus on the other players, and the turn where they started supporting their fellow teammate, felt a little unearned. Granted, this film is about “42” and not “the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers”, however, maybe a little focus on Lucas Black or Hamish Linklater’s characters, would have brought out more from this film. A character like Christopher Meloni’s Coach Leo Durocher, who was unceremoniously sacked at the beginning of the second act, was sorely missed for the rest of the film. Nicole Beharie as Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s wife, and Andre Holland as Wendell Smith are good in the little that they have been given to do, but, all in all, 42 is required viewing for Chadwick Boseman’s brilliant character work, and Harrison Ford’s best performance in a while (not named Han Solo).

If you do get a chance, watch as many as Boseman’s films as possible. Even though he was taken from us to early, his essence will live on through these characters. 

 42 is currently streaming on Netflix in India. 

Acting- 10 / 10

Screenplay / Story - 7 / 10 

Direction- 8 / 10 

Overall- 8.5 / 10