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Black don’t crack! So when in doubt, cast Wesley Snipes. My friend and I were debating on why Morris Chestnut is probably going to be the lead for Panther, the next Black Panther movie to come out. And I had to point out to him that, for what is probably the most important moment in American sports history, the only actor they could find to play Jackie Robinson was…Chadwick Boseman??? What happened to all the good young black actors? Denzel, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Don Cheadle, etc are all too old. As a black man I felt embarrassed that I had to do a Google search for black actors but the list that pulled up was pretty sad.  When you’re debating whether or not it’s too late for Larenz Tate to make a comeback, you know you’re in dire straits. You see what happened there?  I just mention someone from Menace II Society and subconsciously I start rapping!

I guess all we can do is wait for Jaden Smith to grow out of his annoying young Will Smith phase where he yells “Aw hell naw!!!” in every movie. Because right now, all we have is the TV actor Boseman, who actually wasn’t all that bad in this movie. Speaking of television, this entire production had a made for TV feel to it; from the lead actors, to the cinematography, to the toned down for the masses racism. Don’t get me wrong, the scene where the Phillies manager is heckling him is pretty brutal but outside of that, most of the negative energy depicted in the film doesn’t seem any worse than what Lebron went through two years ago. I’m obviously exaggerating a little.

I am not quite sure why the writer of Assassins (Brian Helgeland) was chosen to write and direct this story of one of the bravest men to ever put on a uniform, but his inadequacies in both areas are pretty glaring in this movie. One of the qualities you want in a director is the ability to bring out the best in his actors, regardless of who he is working with. But you can tell early on when Jackie Robinson is trading trash talk with an opponent that you need to lower your expectations for what is to come. If Black people can’t do anything else, we can trash talk! Just look at Allen Iverson’s famous “Practice!” press conference. So when it comes across as…ahem, practiced and phony, you know there is a problem.

Let me go ahead and focus on the reasons why I actually liked this movie. First, you have to be a heartless bigot not to like the story. Everyone is coming back from fighting in WW II (whites and blacks) however when the minorities return they are still subjected to segregation in almost every part of life; even in something as simple as playing a game like baseball. Well one day, Branch Rickey (played admirably by Harrison Ford) decides for monetary and competitive reasons to bring in a Negro ballplayer to his organization's team. As you’ll find out later in the movie, there is also another reason for this, but he goes into it knowing that he has a tough road ahead. No one is ready for the integration of America’s pastime, so he seeks out the one player who not only has the skill to play in the big leagues but can also handle all of the pressure and negativity that will come along with it. So he decides on the skillful, trash talking, Californian Robinson. The story takes you through his first years with the Brooklyn Dodgers and for the most part sticks to the issues he has to deal with on the field. But no matter what he goes through, he shows the perseverance to rise above whatever emotions he is feeling so that he can accomplish something that he knows will inspire generations to come.

It really would take a complete hack to screw up this story (please don’t have David Goyer rise to the challenge) so in that sense, the movie was ok. The main issue that I have with the film is that it never really shows the true danger that Robinson and his family were in by going through this ordeal. This is where a Spike Lee would’ve been perfect. Sure there would have been blaring jazz music the entire time and he might have over dramatized a lot of it, but that was actually necessary here. They barely even touched on the daily threatening hate mail that he received and just gave a passing nod to the physical threats that the Klan presented. I don't know, maybe Helgeland wanted to focus more on the general disapproval of the people within the game and some of the untold stories of issues he had with some of his teammates and the opposing players. And if that’s the case, I get it. However the whole thing came across as a PG Disney movie.

I know it sounds like I didn’t like it but I really did. I just felt that it could have been a lot better. If you have kids or don’t know the Jackie Robinson story, I suggest that you go see it but unlike the player himself, done expect greatness. If you do know the story and like baseball, you may want to wait for Netflix. I want to rate this movie as kind of weak but my blackness will not allow me to do so, so I rate it is kind of FRESH.