42
The film 42 focuses on only about 3 years of Jackie Robinson's life,which is a bit of a
disappointment since so much of his life was interesting before and after retiring from
baseball.Still 42 is a very strong film,with even stronger performances. Team executive
Branch Rickey (an almost unrecognizeable Harrison Ford),had his personal and financial reasons for
breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing African American player Jackie Robinson.
Which in 1945 was completely unheard of and many balked at the idea.
The film thankfully doesnt try to sugar coat what followed.There wasnt some great Disney moment in which
Robinson was accepted by his fellow teammates,players on oppossing teams ,or people attending the games
Fortunately Robinson had the support of a loving wife (Nicole Beharie as Rachel Isum Robinson, African American sportswriter
Wendell Smith(Andre Holland) and Rickey who was a stern almost fatherly figure to Robinson.
There were some including Dodgers manager, Leo Durocher (Christopher Meloni) and Pee Wee Reese(Lucas Black)who felt if Robinson
had the goods he deserved to be on the playing field as much as any other man.
Director and writer Brian Helgeland hits all the right emotional chords.After listening to a relentless barrage of racial slurs from
Philadelphia Phillies, manager Ben Chapman(Alan Tudyk ) Robinson leaves the field and his outcry afterwards went right through me.One of
the most emotional moments i have ever seen on screen.
Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson hits all of the right likeable notes.The supporting cast is terrific.
Robinson had to face racism not with his fists but to turn his anger around and beat the racists at their own game,by stealing bases
playing the game, and letting his talent shine through.
Scale of 1-10 an 8½
Disconnect
The title of the film Disconnect can mean many things.It can apply to the family in the film who can barely
have dinner together before returning to or being distracted by their mobile devices.Or the couple that have been
distanced by a tragic death.It can also be a command to the audience to put our mobile devices away,so we may have a
decent conversation,or actually look at the person we are out on a date with.
Incredibly strong performances from Frank Grillo,Andrea Riseborough,Paula Patton,Michael Nyqvist ,Alexander Skarsgard and Max Thieriot
(Jason Bateman is the standout) propel the film past it's predictable turns and weaknesses.
The film looks at the dark side of the internet.From illicit and explicit web cam chat sites,cyber bullying,catfishing,and fraud.
Cyber emotional friends and hard drives that store every keystroke and website you visit leads to all types of turmoil.
If the goal of the creators of the film was to make the audience reflect on their own trips around the world wide web
they succeeded.This is very watchable,intense and reflective film.
Scale of 1-10 an 8½
/10
