O/T: Saw "42" tonight and loved it...

[nolemmings]

I treated myself while the daughter was at prom last night--first a Dodgers-DBacks game downtown and then the movie. I enjoyed one much more than the other.

The movie was good to very good but not great IMO. It was aimed 99% at that year of breaking the color barrier, with only a little background and follow-up, but that's not surprising given time constraints and the message they were hammering home. And its a good message to hammer home.

I went to the 10:00 p.m show and I would say that at least 25% of the crowd was under 18, including many pre-teens. The amount and degree of the racial slurring was very noticeable, and as uncomfortable as it made me feel, I hope the younger set was even more affected by how vile it sounds.

I remember seeing "Brian's Song" when I was 12 and how much of an impact it had on my generation, at least those in my part of the world. Seeing it again much later I could tell how it was far from any cinematic masterpiece, and was often sappy. Still, the message it sent had been received long ago. With 42, I hope the younger people get the message too, even if the movie itself can be picked at by the critics.

BTW: Spoiler alert (j/k). Ostermueller was a lefty.

[packs]

I saw it last night with my girlfriend. The theater was packed. I liked 42 a lot but I did wish it focused a little more on what Jackie thought about everything that was happening. I wanted it to be a little more from Jackie's perspective, even though it followed Jackie. Definitely should see it if you haven't.