The movie highlights the year of 1947 when the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford), brings Jackie Robinson (played by Chadwick Boseman) up from the minor leagues to play major league baseball. It is the first time in history, that a black man plays on a major league baseball team, in a time when there is rampant racism and segregation of black and white all across the U.S. and especially in the deep south. Branch who is the team's tough white owner, knows it is going to be a very hard path for Jackie to take, but he is insistent on breaking down the color-barrier and tells his seasoned coach Leo Durocher (played by Christopher Meloni) that he is willing to kick players off his own team in order to make that happen. As expected by everyone, Jackie is attacked with racial slurs and even his home and his young wife are threatened. There is a clearly unfair scene at a fancy hotel where the team wants to stay for the night, when the manager of the hotel refuses to allow the entire team to stay there, all because of having a single black player.
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In spite of all of this racial hatred, from the crowds, from players on the opposing teams, and even from some of his own team members, Jackie maintains his composure and does the thing he does best which is play baseball. It takes him awhile, under the pressure, to really get his game going, but when he finally does the crowd explodes with delight, especially the tens of thousands of black fans that come out to see the Dodgers play.
This movie covers a pivotal moment in U.S. History when baseball is changed forever to become more inclusive of all types of players, no matter the color of their skin or ethnic background and this is all thanks to the courage of one young man who wears the number "42”, Jackie Robinson.
Best part of story, including ending:
This is a story of having the courage of personal conviction to overcome prejudice with great honor and dignity.
Best scene in story:
A great scene is when one of Jackie's white team-mates puts his arm around his shoulders in front of a hostile crowd that has come to see the game and is yelling racial slurs at him.
Opinion about the main character:
The main character's ability to maintain composure even though anyone who normally lash out with physical violence at those tormenting him. He resists this strong temptation to fall into that trap and in this way overcomes them all.