42 (2013)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 163
Fresh: 128 | Rotten: 35
42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.
Average Rating: 7/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 11
42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.
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Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 100,209
Movie Info
Hero is a word we hear often in sports, but heroism is not always about achievements on the field of play. "42" tells the story of two men-the great Jackie Robinson and legendary Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey-whose brave stand against prejudice forever changed the world by changing the game of baseball. In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) put himself at the forefront of history when he signed Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team, breaking Major League Baseball's infamous color
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Cast
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Chadwick Boseman
Jackie Robinson -
Harrison Ford
Branch Rickey -
Nicole Beharie
Rachel Robinson -
Christopher Meloni
Leo Durocher -
Ryan Merriman
Dixie Walker -
Lucas Black
Pee Wee Reese -
Andre Holland
Wendell Smith -
Alan Tudyk
Ben Chapman -
Hamish Linklater
Ralph Branca -
T.R. Knight
Harold Parrott -
John C. McGinley
Red Barber -
Toby Huss
Clyde Sukeforth -
Max Gail
Burt Shotton -
Brad Beyer
Kirby Higbe -
James Pickens Jr.
Mr. Brock -
Gino Anthony Pesi
Joe Garagiola -
Brett Cullen
Clay Hopper -
Jesse Luken
Eddie Stanky -
Jamey Holliday
Pete Reiser -
Derek Phillips
Bobby Bragan -
Jamie Ruehling
Spider Jorgensen -
Blake Sanders
Gene Hermanski -
Johnny Knight
Carl Furillo -
Clint O'Brien
Hugh Casey -
Dusan Brown
Ed Charles -
Cherise Boothe
Ed's Mother -
Friedel Pinkston
Birmingham Catcher -
Linc Hand
Fritz Ostermueller -
Thomas Helgeland
Everett McCooey -
Matt Clark
Luther -
Peter Mackenzie
Happy Chandler -
Joe Inscoe
Bob Cooke -
Monnae Michaell
Mallie -
Karole Foreman
Duff Harris -
C.J. Nitkowski
Dutch Leonard -
Scott Callaway
Andy Seminick -
Aaron Farb
Phillie Two -
James Rackley
Phillie One -
Anthony Goolsby
Monarch Batter -
Lou Criscuolo
Reporter One -
Ross Hughes
Reporter Two -
Joe Knezevich
Reporter Three -
Mark Harelik
Herb Pennock -
Kenny Cook
Fan One -
Rhoda Griffis
Miss Bishop -
Dan Fenlan
Babe Hamburger -
Maury Covington
Policeman -
Henry Friedman
Freckles -
Jon Kohler
Spectator Two -
Marc Gowan
Doctor -
Jackson Walker
Jimmy Powers -
Danny Vinson
Eddie Dyer -
Ari Blinder
Photographer -
William Flaman
Cracker -
David Sweeney
Fan Two -
Denise Moye
Older Woman -
Peter Jurasik
Hotel Manager -
Dan Mengini
Spectator One -
Michael H. Cole
Another Reporter -
Janet Metzger
Jane Ann -
Dax Griffin
Racist City Island F... -
Holden Hansen
Freckle's Dad -
Jayson Warner Smith
White Gas Station At... -
Jeremy Taylor
Boy -
Christopher Harvey
Bus Driver -
Kelley Alice Jakle
Alice -
Jud Tylor
Laraine Day -
Tobias Michael Finn
Panamanian Kid -
Ercell Grimes
Shouting Fan -
Dwight Houser
City Island Umpire -
Barry Suttle
Roosevelt Home Umpir... -
Andrew B. Roberts
Ball One Umpire -
Jimmie L. Coleman
Negro League Umpire -
Steve Hicks
Umpire One -
Wayne Hickey
Umpire Two -
Andrew Mullins
Umpire Three -
Dennis A. Spears
Umpire Four -
Gary Miller
Umpire Five -
Todd Wilson
Reporter Four -
David Thoms
Enos Slaughter -
Richard Tavernaro
Deland Umpire -
Hunter Clowdus
Dodger Bat Boy -
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42 Trailer & Photos
All Critics (163) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (35) | DVD (1)
A square, uninventive, but detailed and stirring bio-pic devoted to the two years in an athlete's life that changed a nation.
Top Critic"This is a competent but mostly unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man."
This story inspires and entertains with a vital chapter in this nation's history.
The filmmaking is TV-movie-of-the-week dull and Robinson's ordeal is hammered home to the exclusion of virtually everything else in his life.
"A kind and decent film, though it doesn't add to Robinson's legacy."
[Boseman] captures, in a clenched jaw or a sidelong glance, a lifetime's worth of dearly attained dignity and barely contained rage.
A sweeping, solid biopic that's nicely acted and evocative of its time, place and prejudice.
It's a moving, involving film that's packed with both snappy characters and a real sense of momentous history.
I wanted to kick Ford/Rickey into next Christmas, and you can add the movie. Its corny triumphalism is barely bearable.
Newcomer Chadwick Boseman is very likeable in the lead and has a nice rapport with Harrison Ford here having fun as the Dodgers' shrewd owner, Branch Rickey.
Rousing climaxes, mostly well-earned, arrive every half-hour.
A predictable but stirring underdog story that's less po-faced than it initially threatens to be.
Boseman gives Robinson personal self-assurance to match his physical confidence; and it's enjoyable to watch Ford stretching into a character role as the stubborn, shrewd but good-hearted Rickey.
It's a gloriously sentimental, shamelessly enjoyable slice of apple pie that sugar-coats on a Willy Wonka scale.
What could easily have been a sentimental slog is given a spark of intelligent wit by writer-director Helgeland (A Knight's Tale).
Powerfully emotional and impressively acted, 42 is a superbly made biopic that tells the important story of one of the most significant figures in American history.
A handsome and suprisingly sturdy undertaking that explores the insidious effects of racism with a sharp eye.
If it hadn't been for the number on the back of Robinson's shirt, 42 could easily have stood for the amount of times this film makes you burst into tears.
Helgeland's handsome biopic plays out like a glossy TV movie ...
Helgeland has crafted a decent sport movie, but one that feels too sanitized and feels too educationally minded to prove any genuine thought.
A well-told but square biopic doing justice to Jackie Robinson rather than exploring him.
It's a schmaltzy, sanitised take on a tumultuous time, but even without edge or insight the story hits an emotional home run.
A workout for the emotions in the story of Jackie Robinson as a civil rights pioneer in the segregated sport of baseball in the 1940s.
Brian Helgeland's 42 is a serviceable biopic that graces over the serious drama in exchange for a quick emotional reactions.
Writer-director Brian Helgeland delivers his best movie with 42, a sharp, earnest tale about Jackie Robinson's contributions to Major League Baseball.
To criticize 42 very harshly would be like kicking a puppy. It's too nice, too well-meaning to warrant dislike.
Audience Reviews for 42
Super Reviewer
Great Film! The film is a true inspirational story of how a baseball player helped change a sport, and how sport can change a country. Despite it's cliché moments, this film has a charm to it that makes it so beloved. I felt the film was done well with good directing by Brian Helgeland who also wrote the screenplay. He let his cast act and it shows in their performances. I liked Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson. Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. Nicole Behanie as Rachel Robinson, and Andre Holland as Wendell Smith. These four were real standouts and I just enjoyed watching them do their roles."42" for me was a powerful and superb film that everyone should see, even if you are not a baseball fan. It looks at a period in our country where stupidity was running amuck in not treating people with respect, fairness, and looking at their color first. Two men started something that would change our lives for the better and thank God for that! Its my hope that 42 film will educate and inspire this generation and the next and that "42" won't become lost amongst the Sports film or bio-pic movie genre.
In 1946, Jackie Robinson is a Negro League baseball player who never takes racism lying down. Branch Rickey is a Major League team executive with a bold idea. To that end, Rickey recruits Robinson to break the unspoken color line as the first modern African American Major League player. As both anticipate, this proves a major challenge for Robinson and his family as they endure unrelenting racist hostility on and off the field, from player and fan alike. As Jackie struggles against his nature to endure such abuse without complaint, he finds allies and hope where he least expects it.
Super Reviewer
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- Ralph Branca: Come on, take a shower with me, Jackie.
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- Jackie Robinson: I'm not goin' anywhere! I'm right here!
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- Reporter Four: Whatcha gonna do if one of these pitchers throws for your head?
- Jackie Robinson: I'll duck.
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- Leo Durocher: If Robinson can help us win, then he is gonna play on this ball club!
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- Branch Rickey: Jackie Robinson. A black man in white baseball.
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- Branch Rickey: Your enemy will be out in force, but you cannot meet him on his own low ground.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Oh great, another "whites are evil" movie | 53 days ago | 115 |
| Guess the Tomatometer | 3 months ago | 86 |
| A little light could have been a bit heavier | 5 months ago | 26 |
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