“42”

Warner Brothers

While inspirational sports movies tend to be a bit tiresome, “42” does a good job of telling the story of Jackie Robinson and his rise to fame. The movie offers an excellent representation of Robinson’s struggles to become a prominent baseball player during a time of adversity. The unknown Chadwick Boseman lays everything on the table in his portrayal of Robinson. Supporting actor Harrison Ford plays the Dodgers’ manager and offers some comedic relief. The movie has more of a focus on the civil rights struggles of the 1940s than the actual sport of baseball itself, but that’s not a bad thing. Solid storylines, believable acting, inspirational clichés — what more could you want in a movie?