| 42 | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brian Helgeland |
| Written by | Brian Helgeland |
| Produced by | Thomas Tull |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Don Burgess |
| Edited by | |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 128 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $31–40 million[2][3] |
| Box office | $97.5 million[3] |
42[a] is a 2013 American biographicalsports drama film produced byLegendary Pictures and distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures. Written and directed byBrian Helgeland,42 is based on baseball playerJackie Robinson, the firstblack athlete to play inMajor League Baseball (MLB) during the modern era. The title of the film reflects Robinson's jersey number, which wasuniversally retired across all MLB teams in 1997. Theensemble cast includesChadwick Boseman as Robinson, alongsideHarrison Ford,Nicole Beharie,Christopher Meloni,André Holland,Lucas Black,Hamish Linklater, andAlan Tudyk in supporting roles.
Spike Lee initially planned to direct a biopic in 1995 withTurner Pictures, but the project fell apart due to creative differences and later financial challenges. In 2011, Legendary Pictures took over, collaborating with Robinson's widow,Rachel Robinson, to ensure authenticity. Boseman, cast as Robinson in his breakout role, impressed Helgeland with his athleticism and emotional depth during auditions. Boseman trained to replicate Robinson's mannerisms and connected with Rachel for character insights. Filming began in 2012 across locations likeChattanooga, Tennessee, andBirmingham, Alabama, withEngel Stadium standing in for theBrooklyn Dodgers'Ebbets Field. The production used digital recreations of historic stadiums and involved local extras.
42 was screened at theWhite House and premiered atTCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles before it was released on April 12, 2013, byWarner Bros. Its release was three days beforeJackie Robinson Day, celebrated annually on April 15. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise centered on Boseman's heartfelt portrayal and Ford's stylized performance.42 earned $97.5 million worldwide against a $40 million budget, including a record-breaking $27.5 million opening for abaseball film.
A montage depicts the end of theSecond World War and the associationsbaseball held as a symbol of democratic freedom, contrasted against scenes ofracial disparity within American society.African American ballplayers were restricted to playing in theNegro leagues when the1946 Major League Baseball season saw 16 teams and 400 white players.
In 1945,Brooklyn Dodgers ownerBranch Rickey seeks to recruit a blackbaseball player for his team. Reviewing potential candidates, Rickey suggestsJackie Robinson of the Negro leagues'Kansas City Monarchs. During a racially motivated confrontation at a gas station, Robinson is approached by Dodgers scoutClyde Sukeforth. Rickey tells Robinson the challenges of breaking thecolor line and emphasizes restraint in responding to provocations. Robinson agrees to join the Dodgers under these terms and proposes to his girlfriend,Rachel Robinson, who accepts.
InDaytona Beach, Florida, Robinson trains with theAAA affiliatefarm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers: theMontreal Royals, managed byClay Hopper. After performing well his first season, Robinson advances to the Dodgers and is trained as afirst baseman inPanama City. Some Dodgers draft a petition refusing to play with Robinson, but are rebuffed by managerLeo Durocher, whom Rickey confides in. Robinson opens up toWendell Smith, his black chronicler, saying he doesn't like needing people.Baseball CommissionerHappy Chandler suspends Durocher over hisextramarital affair, and Robinson signs with the team and plays on the1947 season's opening day; Rickey convinces former playerBurt Shotton to take over as manager. Sometime later, Robinson and Rachel have a baby boy, whom Robinson vows to be there for.
On the field,Philadelphia Phillies managerBen Chapman relentlessly taunts Robinson with racial epithets. In thedugout, Robinson angrily strikes his bat against the wall, breaking into tears. Rickey tells him that Robinson is too revered to retaliate. Fellow teammateEddie Stanky defends Robinson, who scores the winningrun. A Philadelphia hotel denies the Dodgers service, leading to an altercation between Robinson andDixie Walker. When Chapman's behavior generates negative press for the team, Phillies' general managerHerb Pennock, who had earlier disapproved of Robinson playing in Philadelphia, requires Chapman to pose with Robinson for magazine photos. TeammatePee Wee Reese sympathizes with Robinson, standing with his arm around Robinson's shoulders before a hostile crowd atCrosley Field. In a game against theSt. Louis Cardinals,Enos Slaughter spikes Robinson on the back of the leg with hiscleats. Robinson calms vengeful Dodgers, insisting they focus on winning the game. While Robinson is treated, Rickey tells him that Robinson inspired him to love baseball again.
Robinson hits ahome run againstPittsburgh Pirates pitcherFritz Ostermueller, who had earlier hit him in the head, helping the Dodgers clinch theNational League pennant, sending them to the1947 World Series. Rachel witnesses a Brooklyn street erupt in cheers while Wendell documents the achievements of Robinson, who confidently sprints toward home plate. An epilogue highlights Robinson's induction into theBaseball Hall of Fame alongside Rickey and Reese; Wendell becoming the first African American member of theBaseball Writers' Association of America; and the annual commemoration of Robinson's achievements, in whichall players wear his number, 42, which remainsretired across baseball. Inspired, a youngEd Charles later played for the1969 World Series champion "Miracle Mets".
Spike Lee planned to write and directThe Jackie Robinson Story based on the life ofJackie Robinson and had it set up atTurner Pictures under his40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1995. The studio wanted to release it in 1997 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Robinson's breaking of the color barrier, and courtedDenzel Washington to star,[12][13] but the project fell apart in 1996 over creative differences. In March 1997, Lee found favor withColumbia Pictures, who signed him to a three-year first-look deal. Columbia PresidentAmy Pascal reflected that it would bring "enormous potential for Spike to reach audiences that are not traditionally associated with Spike Lee movies."[14] The project eventually fell apart due to difficulties securing funding, a script, and a lead actor.[15][16] In 2004Robert Redford set up a separate biopic as producer with Deep River Productions, as well as his own production company, Wildwood Productions. Redford also intended to co-star asBranch Rickey,[17] andHoward Baldwin joined as producer the following year.[18]
In June 2011, it was announced thatLegendary Pictures would develop and produce a Jackie Robinson biopic withBrian Helgeland on board to write and direct, under a distribution deal withWarner Bros. He was approached by producerThomas Tull about a potential Jackie Robinson biopic.[19] Helgeland, who had previously worked with Tull, received the call while on a bus trip to New York with his father. During the conversation, he noticed a billboard featuring Robinson's image with the message "Character: Pass it On", which he later described as "a moment of serendipity" that solidified his interest in the project.[20]
Three days later, after reading Robinson's autobiography, Helgeland met with Robinson's widow,Rachel Robinson, to present his vision for the film. While Rachel initially envisioned a cradle-to-grave portrayal covering Robinson's life beyond baseball, Helgeland proposed focusing on a specific period—Robinson's transition from theNegro leagues in 1945 through his rookie season with theBrooklyn Dodgers in the1947 season.[20] Rachel agreed to the plan and described Robinson's physical traits and personality, as well as the depth of their relationship. "She told me how disciplined he was, how adamant he was about not drinking, and how opinionated he was", Boseman shared.[21]
Helgeland prioritized accurate depictions of baseball sequences, avoiding what he viewed as overly choreographed action seen in some sports films. He studied past baseball movies and citedThe Bad News Bears as a standout for its naturalistic portrayal of the sport's emotional and unifying elements.[20] Rachel had previously been involved with Redford's project.[22][23]
Boseman's breakthrough role came with42, in which he portrayed the lead role of Robinson.[24][25] When asked about Robinson and Rachel, Hegeland emphasized the importance that the actors "be accepted at once by the audience." He found it tricky for "someone famous to play someone else famous".[26]
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Boseman had been directing anoff-Broadway play in theEast Village when he auditioned for the role,[27] and was considering giving up acting to pursue directing full-time.[28] About twenty-five other actors had been seriously considered for the role, but directorBrian Helgeland liked Boseman's bravery in choosing to read the most difficult scene, in which Robinson goes down a stadium tunnel and breaks a bat in anger, and cast him after he had auditioned twice.[29][30][31] Part of the audition process involved playing baseball; Boseman had been involved withLittle League as a child but was primarily a basketball player growing up, saying that in this part the casting directors likely noticed his athleticism rather than specifically baseball skills.[27]
Rachel commented that Boseman's performance was like seeing her husband again.[32] To replicate Robinson's mannerisms, Boseman trained for five months with professional baseball coaches, noting they "would tape [his] practices every few weeks, and they would basically split-screen [his technique] with [Robinson's]" to allow him to compare.[27] After having portrayed football playerFloyd Little inThe Express, Boseman was encouraged by stunt coordinatorAllan Graf to approach running bases in the same way, as Robinson had also been a college football player.[31][33] Upon taking the role, Boseman first spoke with Rachel Robinson, which he said was of great help in discovering the character.[27] Boseman metHank Aaron, whose career briefly overlapped with Robinson's. Aaron shared his experiences with racial adversity in baseball, helping Boseman deepen his understanding of the role. When Aaron visited the set, Boseman said it felt as if Robinson himself were there.[34]
Initially, Helgeland was hesitant to cast Ford, seeking acharacter actor for the role of Rickey.[35] However, Ford's persistence and dedication to the role, including studying Rickey's life and adopting significant physical transformations, won Helgeland over.[36] Ford's commitment to embodying Rickey involved wearing a fat suit, prosthetics, and mastering Rickey's distinctive voice and mannerisms.[35] He researched Rickey's life, listened to recordings from theBaseball Hall of Fame, and worked with avoice coach to capture Rickey's distinct speech. "I loved the language of the guy, I loved his style," Ford noted.[36] In a 2023 interview withJames Hibberd ofThe Hollywood Reporter, Ford said Branch Rickey is one of his roles he is most proud of.[37]
Nicole Beharie, who portrayedRachel Robinson in42, described her journey into acting as somewhat haphazard, influenced by her lively family. AJuilliard graduate, she was familiar with Robinson's historical significance but was unaware of the depth of his struggles and the profound impact he had beyond baseball;[38] Beharie compared him to a "godfather ofBarack Obama". In preparation for her role, Beharie had the opportunity to meet Rachel,[38] who visited the set, provided insights, and shared personal details about her life and relationship with Jackie. Beharie recalled spending evenings speaking with Rachel[38] and reading letters exchanged between Jackie and Rachel while he was on the road, describing their correspondence as "the most incredible love story" and a key element that drew her to the role.[39]
"When you're doing a character, you want to know the full landscape. You want to know them spiritually, mentally and physically. So I asked [Rachel Robinson]: were there any physical things that he did that stood out. We sat down for hours and talked about his personality and what his tendencies were"... The way [Jackie Robinson] stood, and the way he held his hands in the backfield...all of those physical things I tried to do".[40]
In the spring of 2012,Engel Stadium inChattanooga, Tennessee, served as a stand-in forEbbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.[41] Filming at the stadium began on April 21, 2012. Some interior scenes were shot at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County inHiram, Georgia.[42]42 was partially filmed in historicRickwood Field inBirmingham, Alabama,[43] serving as a stand-in for several major and minor league ballparks. The Tutwiler Hotel was also used to depict Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Hotel in a scene where the Brooklyn Dodgers were turned away due to Robinson's race. The production hired between 600 and 700 local extras during its filming in Alabama.[44] The filming of42 was a significant economic boost for Chattanooga, with an estimated $5 million injected into the local economy.[41] Filming in Chattanooga marked the longest-running and largest-budget production the city had hosted at that time, surpassing previous Hollywood projects such asWater for Elephants andDeliverance.[41]
Supervising art director Thomas Hoover and the visual effects team, led by Jamie Dixon of Hammerhead, utilized historical research, scanned architectural drawings, anddigital modeling to construct a 1,200-foot-long, 40-foot-highgreen screen for scenes set in Ebbets Field. The visual effects team digitally rendered the outfield and portions of the infield.[45] Engel Stadium was used as the foundation for the recreation, as it was one of the oldest existing ballparks and had historical ties to Robinson. The production adapted the structure by modifying its layout to match Ebbets Field's dimensions, adjusting the infield angles, and reconstructing key elements such as thedugout, scoreboard, and fences. In addition to Engel Stadium, the film usedLuther Williams Field inMacon, Georgia, and Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, both of which had connections to Robinson's career. Engel Stadium also served as a stand-in forCrosley Field in Cincinnati.[45]
Boseman's deep character study enabled him to note when his stunt double was playing Robinson incorrectly, and he insisted on doing his own stunts,[46][47] but former minor league player Jasha Balcom was Boseman's stunt double for some scenes.[48] Using old photographs and stadium blueprints, Shibe Park,The Polo Grounds,Sportsman's Park, and Forbes Field were also recreated for the film usingdigital imagery.[49] To create the final crowd scenes, the visual effects team used inflatable mannequins in the stands as placeholders. These were later replaced with digital composites of individual fans, each filmed against a blue screen. The entire field was also altered: theinfield and home plate were relocated, while the scoreboard and outfield advertisements were digitally recreated. The remaining areas of the field were shot against a green screen to allow for the digital addition of the stadium stands.[26] Extras, many of whom were local residents, filled roles as players and other period-specific figures. After filming wrapped in Chattanooga in June, the green screen setup around Engel Stadium remained in place for weeks in case additional shots were needed.[41][50] The green billboards were torn down later.[51]
42's soundtrack features an orchestral score composed byMark Isham who developed the main themes through piano at his in-built studio in his house.[52][53] The score had emphasis on French horns and solo trumpet, being the voice of Robinson.[52]WaterTower Music released the score album on April 9, 2013, along with an accompanying soundtrack that featured the songs heard in the film.[54][55]Bilge Ebiri ofVulture called it as "predictably twinkly, treacly score" while noting the presence of four musical crescendos in the first fifteen minutes.[56]
Marriott International collaborated withWarner Bros. to promote Marriott Rewards, the company's loyalty program, to African American audiences. On February 25, 2013, Marriott launched a month-long sweepstakes onFacebook offering daily prizes,[58] including tickets to42 and a grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to the film's premiere on April 9, 2013, in Los Angeles. A special trailer for42 featuring Chadwick Boseman was shown onLodgeNet entertainment systems in over 1,000Marriott Hotels across the United States. Key cards distributed at Marriott hotels in 11 cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles,[58] featured promotional materials about the Facebook contest. Marriott also hosted exclusive screenings of42 for members of its loyalty program in Boston, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Phoenix.[58]
On April 15, 2013,Jackie Robinson Day was celebrated atDodger Stadium. During theLos Angeles Dodgers game against theSan Diego Padres,[57] the film's trailer was shown on the stadium's video boards.Kelley Jakle, a cast member of the film and the great-granddaughter ofBranch Rickey, performed "God Bless America".[57] Harrison Ford and Boseman, along with other cast members of42, participated in pre-game ceremonies and media interviews at Dodger Stadium.[57] Ford threw the game'sceremonial first pitch.[59]
The 30 teams ofMajor League Baseball organized private screenings for thousands of students from eighth to twelfth grade across the United States and Canada. CommissionerBud Selig hosted the first screening in Milwaukee,[60] joined by Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon Robinson. Selig described the film as depicting "the proudest moment in baseball history" and emphasized its role in educating future generations about Robinson's impact on the nation.[60][61][62]
On April 2, 2013, First LadyMichelle Obama hosted a screening of the film in theWhite House's State Dining Room for 80 students from high schools and universities across the United States.[63][64] A question-and-answer session featured Robinson's widow Rachel, and members of the cast and crew, including Boseman, Ford, and director-screenwriterBrian Helgeland.[65][66] Michelle noted that both she and PresidentBarack Obama[67][68] found the film "very powerful" and encouraged students to recognize that success requires perseverance rather than innate talent.[69] According toESPN, Michelle gave42 a glowing review.[20]
42 premiered atTCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, on April 9, 2013. People present included cast members, Rachel, rapperBig Sean, actressesNaya Rivera andCalista Flockhart, and football playerBill Cowher.[70]42 also premiered atAMC Barry Woods Theater inKansas City on April 11, 2013, a day before its nationwide release on April 12 byWarner Bros.,[71] as a benefit for theNegro Leagues Baseball Museum.[72] Boseman, Ford, and Robinson's son David were present in the premiere; Ford participated in the fundraiser.[73]
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42 grossed $95 million in the United States and $2.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $97.5 million, against a production budget of $40 million.[74] The film earned $27.3-27.5 million for its opening weekend, the best-ever debut for a baseball-themed film.[75][76] This surpassed the previous highest opening of $19.6 million set byThe Benchwarmers (2006) andMoneyball's $19.5 million (2011).[77][78]42 then made $17.7 million and $10.7 million on its second and third weekends, finishing second and third, respectively.[79]
Of the film's opening,Forbes said "not only is that the biggest baseball opening weekend on record, it's the biggest baseball-themed opening weekend even when adjusted for inflation."[80] The film's opening was especially positive forWarner Bros., which had seen disappointing performances from previous films likeBullet to the Head,Beautiful Creatures, andThe Incredible Burt Wonderstone, each of which had earned under $25 million in the United States.42 had a 3.0x weekend multiplier; the audience demographic was skewed towards 52% male and 83% aged 25 and older, indicating a mature audience.[80] The film was expected to maintain strong box office performance through April, thought to surpass $100 million. Additionally,42 was anticipated to have a significant post-theatrical life due to continued airing on networks likeTNT.[80]Forbes also noted that42 faced a significant disparity in box office revenues due to the limited international appeal of baseball films, with most of its earnings coming from the U.S. Despite Robinson's status as an American sports andcivil rights icon, the intricacies of baseball and his historical significance did not resonate as strongly with foreign audiences, leading to a minimal overseas release and low international ticket sales.[81]
42 was released onDVD andBlu-ray on July 16, 2013. The DVD release sold 1.3 million units ($18 million), becoming the 33rd highest-grossing of 2013 in the United States by units sold.[82]
OnRotten Tomatoes,42 holds an approval rating of 80% based on 193 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "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."[83] OnMetacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[84] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade.[85][86]
"It was important to me because I wanted it to be an authentic piece. I wanted to get it right. I didn't want them to make him an angry black man or some stereotype, so it was important for me to be in there. ... I love the movie. I'm pleased with it. It's authentic and it's also very powerful."[87]
Richard Roeper wrote, "This is a competent but mostly unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man."[88] Lisa Kennedy, of theDenver Post, lauded the film, saying "This story inspires and entertains with a vital chapter in this nation's history."[89][90] Conversely, Peter Rainer ofThe Christian Science Monitor, criticized the film as "TV-movie-of-the-week dull", noting the "exclusion of virtually everything else in [Robinson's] life."[91] The film's actors were generally praised, withOwen Gleiberman saying of Ford, "He gives an ingeniously stylized cartoon performance, his eyes atwinkle, his mouth a rubbery grin".[92]The Hollywood Reporter commented that Boseman "has the necessary appeal, proves convincing as an athlete and is expressive in spite of the fact that the man he's playing must mostly keep his true feelings bottled up."[93] Geoff Boucher ofEntertainment Weekly noted thatAlan Tudyk's portrayal of Phillies managerBen Chapman in42 "put a face to the racism" Robinson endured, showing how prejudice was often delivered with a smirk as much as a scowl.[94] In a positive review, Ann Hornaday ofThe Washington Post referenced the scene of racial unity betweenPee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) and Robinson as emblematic of42's "cumulative, undeniable momentum".[95]
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Critics, even those who viewed the film negatively, felt that Boseman being a relatively unknown actor was a benefit when playing an icon and an athlete;Mick LaSalle ofSan Francisco Chronicle wrote that "as [...] played by Chadwick Boseman, Robinson is a hero we can recognize",[96] and Mary Pols forTime said that "Boseman is not a hugely close physical match to Robinson, except for perhaps in the power he conveys, but he's a great choice to play the ball player".[97]The Guardian's Mike McCahill noted that "Boseman hits his key scenes out of the park", but felt the film would not interest people who are not baseball fans,[98] withDana Stevens ofSlate suggesting that the film made black history "squeaky-clean" and did both Robinson and Boseman's performance as him a disservice.[99]IndieWire critic Gabe Toro wrote that42 avoids being "yet another studio film where the white man battles a gauntlet of adversity to allow for a Civil Rights victory."[100]
When writing about Helgeland's past filmography and Boseman's portrayal of Robinson, Scott Foundas ofVariety noted, "for all of42's self-conscious monument building, the cumulative effect is to render its subject markedly smaller and more ordinary than he actually was."[101] Mark Kermode ofThe Guardian wrote, "It's inspirational fare, although such a remarkable story perhaps deserves a rather more remarkable movie."[102] John Harlt ofThe Seattle Times described42 as "a kind of feel-good movie about racism", writing that Hegeland's obsession with dates and places "are problematic", yet that42 "offers a very good place to start".[7] John Baldoni ofForbes highlighted the raw honesty in the relationship between Robinson and Rickey. He specifically pointed to the pivotal moment when Rickey challenged Robinson to have the strength to endure racist taunts without fighting back.[103]
| Award | Category | Subject | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Black Film Festival | Most Promising Performer | Chadwick Boseman | Nominated | [104] |
| Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male | Nominated | [105] | |
| 45th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Nominated | [106] | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2013 | Most Promising Performer | Nominated | [107] | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Harrison Ford | Nominated | [108] |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [109] | |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards 2013 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [110] |
Boseman died at his Los Angeles home as a result of complications related tocolon cancer on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43.[111][112] MLB and the Dodgers issued statements honoring Boseman, in light of his acclaimed portrayal of the player.[113][114] Numerous publications noted Boseman died on the observance of Jackie Robinson Day,[b] seven years after his having portrayed Robinson.[115][116] Several theater chains, includingAMC andRegal, re-released the film in September after Boseman's death.[74] In a statement toThe Hollywood Reporter, Ford said "Chadwick Boseman was as compelling, powerful and truthful as the characters he chose to play".[117]
A central theme of42 is integration, particularlyJackie Robinson's entry intoMajor League Baseball as a challenge to segregation. Signed byBrooklyn Dodgers general managerBranch Rickey, Robinson's presence in the league forces America to confront its racial divisions.[118]Robinson's struggle is met with violent and psychological resistance. Opposing pitchers target him, base runners spike him with their cleats, and he receives death threats against himself and his family.[118] A key moment highlights opposing managerBen Chapman relentlessly taunting him with racist insults, testing Robinson's ability to endure without retaliation.[119]NPR positions Robinson as a symbol of nonviolent resistance, embodying the philosophy of "turning the other cheek".[120] NPR also noted that42 portrayed Robinson's integration of Major League Baseball with a high degree of accuracy.Stanford professor and Robinson biographerArnold Rampersad stated that "fundamentally, the story is accurate".[120]
Branch Rickey's role in Robinson's career is initially framed as a financial decision,[118] likened to an early form of "moneyball".[119] Robinson's integration also forces his teammates to take a stance. Initially, many resist Dodgers sign a petition against playing with him. Meanwhile,Pee Wee Reese, a white teammate from Kentucky, publicly puts his arm around Robinson in front of a hostile Cincinnati crowd, demonstrating allyship in the face of public racism.[118][119] According to NPR, the character ofWendell Smith, a black sportswriter assigned to cover Robinson, reflects the role of the press in shaping public perception. Though the film condenses multiple historical figures into Smith's character, it highlights how journalists, including those omitted from the film likeDaily Worker writerLester Rodney, played a crucial role in pushing for integration.[120]
During an intimate talk at theGene Siskel Film Center,André Holland reflected on his role as Wendell in42, emphasizing the importance of accurately portraying historical figures.[94] He stated, "If I'm going to play people, real people, I've got to do everything I can to tell the truth about what happened. It's a form of violence, I think, to obscure the truth."[94] Holland had prepared for the role by meeting with Smith's widow to understand his legacy, but he was disappointed when crucial scenes depicting Smith's advocacy for Robinson were cut from the final film.[94]Forbes staff Scott Mendelson noted that the film's African American stars, Boseman andNicole Beharie, might face challenges in securing high-profile roles in mainstream Hollywood films, citing the limited opportunities for non-white actors in major studio productions.[80] Mendelson further commented on the "glass ceiling" for non-white actors, particularly women, in Hollywood. Nevertheless, the success of42 highlighted the demand for mainstream films featuring African American talent, with the hope that studios might take note of the film's positive reception.[80]
Ford emphasized the film's broader message, stating that42 is not just a sports story but a reflection on racial equality in America. "This is a movie about the history of racial equality in the United States, and it makes it visceral history",[21] he said. Helgeland also hoped the film would encourage more positive and diverse portrayals of African Americans in cinema.[21] Boseman highlighted the film's portrayal of a black love story on a major Hollywood platform. He continued, "I realized that I had not seen two black people in love in a major motion picture", hoping42 would set a precedent for future films.[21] In an interview with theLos Angeles Times Helgeland explained that he deliberately included the racially charged language Robinson faced, particularly in a sequence depictingPhiladelphia Phillies managerBen Chapman's relentless verbal assault on Robinson. "Those words had to be violent", Helgeland said. "If we trivialized it, some people might say, 'Oh, he didn't have it so bad.'"[125] In contrast,Alan Tudyk publicly shared his discomfort over the language of Chapman's character.[20]
SB Nation noted inaccuracies inEd Charles's age and interaction with Robinson while inDaytona Beach, as well as the purported home run by Robinson in what is supposedly the Dodgers' pennant-clinching victory.[126] Pirates pitcherFritz Ostermueller threw left-handed, not right-handed as in the film. His first-inning pitch hit Robinson on the left wrist, not his head, and he claimed it was a routinebrushback pitch without racist intent. There was no fight on the mound afterwards.[127]
Almost as widely reported yet perhaps more revealing: it earned a rare A+ CinemaScore from audiences.
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