From ‘Django Unchained’ to ‘Lincoln’ there has been a surge in the popularity of films depicting the racial struggles of African-Americans. Like the others, ‘42’ chronicles one aspect of African-Americans’ quest for equality, as legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) breaks the color-barrier in Major League baseball.

Most people with a working knowledge of history or sports are familiar with Robinson’s inspirational story. Robinson was an extremely talented baseball player, but due to his complexion he could not play in the major leagues. After one successful season in the Negro Leagues, Robinson caught the eye of Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey eagerly offered Robinson a spot on the Dodgers, making Robinson the first black player in Major League history. Rickey’s controversial decision shocked the nation and produced a significant backlash. Robinson was constantly heckled during games by intolerant spectators. Even some Robinson’s teammates openly voiced their displeasure with the move. However, by the end of the movie, Robinson’s spectacular play and emotional perseverance helped win over most skeptics.

The highlight of the film was seeing how people who were initially skeptical of Robinson came to support him; this support grew stronger as Robinson’s stellar play led the Dodgers to first-place in the National League. In a heart-warming scene towards the end of the movie, Robinson is being cruelly harassed by opposing fans, when Dodgers star player Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) puts his arm around Robinson – much to the dismay of the hateful fans.

The acting was decent overall with a few stand-out performances. Chadwick Boseman’s ability to demonstrate the emotion and anger Robinson felt during the season should earn him a few awards. Nicole Beharie also had a noteworthy performance as Rachel Robinson, Robinson’s wife. Her sense of humor and constant encouragement throughout the movie make her a very likable character. Lastly, Alan Tudyk’s representation of the Philadelphia Phillies racist and abusive manager, Ben Chapman, is an overlooked marvel of the film. Perhaps it is overlooked because the man Tudyk acts as is so despicable. During multiple scenes, Robinson is at the plate while Chapman screams racial slurs and berates him.

For decades filmmakers had unsuccessfully tried to capture Jackie Robinson’s story, but director Brian Helgeland seems to have finally got it right with ‘42’. Helgeland and the rest of the production crew created a realistic replica of baseball and America in the late 1940s. The film was a historical masterpiece: with antique cars, authentic dialects, and realistic post-war-American buildings – to name a few.

While the conclusion of the movie may be extremely predictable, it is definitely still worth seeing. It provides viewers with a deeper understanding of the obstacles Jackie Robinson overcame and shows how hard people fought to achieve racial equality.