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 line. But the deal also put both Robinson and Rickey in the firing line of the public, the press and even other players. Facing unabashed racism from every side, Robinson was forced to demonstrate tremendous courage and restraint by not reacting in kind, knowing that any incident could destroy his and Rickey's hopes. Instead, Number 42 let his talent on the field do the talking – ultimately winning over fans and his teammates, silencing his critics, and paving the way for others to follow.
42 is an intimate look at the world of Jackie Robinson during his historic addition to the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first African American to play for a Major League team. Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of the Hall of Fame player is subtle and perfect. The tough GM Branch Rickey is well represented by Harrison Ford. The baseball scenes were smartly directed but the heart of the film is the obstacles Robinson must face on his eventual path to being a legendary sports figure but more importantly a great American. This film is well worth a purchase. 8.5/10
42 arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1. - I was surprised to learn that 42 was shot digitally. The warmth and life in the image was very filmic. Colors were natural and saturation was sublime. Deep greens, striking blues, and crisp whites all looked great. Fine detail was in a word, excellent. From the precise clothing of the era to beauty of the baseball fields everything was crystal clear. Black levels were deep but never sacrificed shadow delineation. No signs of DNR or Edge Enhancement were noticed. This transfer is a real crowd pleaser. Play ball! 9.5/10
Audio is provided by a DTS -HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - This track was pretty much flawless. From the excitement of the games to more dramatic scenes everything was crystal clear and precise. Surrounds help create a sense of being in the middle of the baseball action but also in quieter moments with subtle environmental effects to give a feeling of being in that scene. The touching score is robust and accompanied by some really strong LFE that never flutters. Dialogue was always crisp and clean. No pops, cracks or hisses to be heard. 10/10
* Stepping Into History (1080p, 9min15sec) - A nice look at casting and insight from them including Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman.
* Full-Contact Baseball (1080p, 10min5sec) - A fun behind-the-scenes look at the work that went into creating the period correct ballparks of the era the film portrays. Another segment shows the actors training so they look more authentic as ballplayers.
* The Legacy of Number 42 (1080p, 9min17sec) - We hear from cast an crew as well as retired HOF ballplayers and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Mr. Robinson's son also provides insight on his fathers legacy.