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Created May 12, 2013 10:17AM PST • Edited May 12, 2013 10:17AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   42 gives us a part of baseball history that fans and non-fans alike should see. As much as it is a decent baseball story, it is an even better story about American history. This glimpse into how Jackie Robinson made his way from a Negro league to the Brooklyn Dodgers was more complex than a simple ‘come from behind’ sports story. The bad-guys in the film were mostly portrayed as redneck throwbacks, while the good-guys were either the negroes themselves, savvy baseball-business-managers who saw a huge monetary opportunity in allowing coloreds on the fields, or enlightened players who simply thought that if you had the goods, you should be given a chance on the field. A big part of the movie focuses on Branch Rickey, who was a combination of all of the above. Watching this type of plot complexity is made simpler in the context of a sports movie — with tons of fans wanting their hero to give it to the man – you end up cheering for what is right – and for pure greatness on the field.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Chadwick Boseman was a great pick for Jackie; Vigor in his youth, with the smarts to survive the tough times.

   Harrison Ford still has it in him. His portrayal of Branch Rickey made Branch seem a bit over-the-top, but it was certainly believable that someone could see the business light at the end of the tunnel.

   John McGinley was great as the antagonistic Philly manager who eventually came around.

   Nicole Beharie – a fine addition to Chadwick’s side

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.3

17. Sex Innocent 1.3

18. Violence Gentle 1.3

19. Rudeness Polite 1.3

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0