42

This isn't a perfect film, but it's entertaining and, by most accounts, historically accurate. But director Brian Helgeland definitely pulls a bit too hard at the heartstrings with slow-motion shots of little children and audiences watching Robinson play. As a result, 42 frequently teeters on the brink of being overly sentimental. Still, Boseman gives a wonderful performance as an amazing athlete, a loving husband/father, and a man who knows how to respond to racists and critics on the field, not with his fists.

Ford's performance is over the top and gets more screen time than strictly necessary for a biopic about a Black icon, but he believably portrays what drove Rickey's desire to integrate Major League Baseball: his business savvy (a Black player meant more Black fans) and his Christian principles (he's a Methodist who often compares Robinson's trials to those of Jesus). Ultimately, the biopic is about both men, perhaps to its detriment. Crowd-pleasing and uncomplicated, 42 isn't likely to win awards, but it's a great pick for families -- whether they love baseball or not.