42 (Rated PG-13)

As a fan of baseball, I eagerly anticipated “42,” knowing that the legend of Jackie Robinson is more than a great sports story; it’s a critical turning point in race relations leading up to the Civil Rights era.

Celebrating the life of a true sports hero, “42” does not disappoint. Though it has the look and feel of an old-fashioned sports drama, this film has an elegant grace and beauty for its realization of the post-war period.

Most baseball fans love nostalgia, particularly for old ballparks now long gone, like Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field and Crosley Field. With the help of CGI, these ballparks are lovingly recreated.

The visual appeal of “42” is stunning, and great pains were taken to bring realism to all facets. Even the magnificent Dodger Blue team bus pulling into a Philadelphia hotel parking lot is a gem.

The Jackie Robinson story is well-documented and given the fact that his uniform number 42 has been retired throughout Major League Baseball, there are few surprises about the first African-American to break the color barrier.

Writer and director Brian Helgeland, an obvious admirer of the titular character, focuses his homage to Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) on a tight schedule of the ballplayer’s quick move from the Negro Leagues to the Major League during the period of 1945 to 1947.

Not to be overlooked is the love story subplot in which Robinson, then playing with the Kansas City Monarchs, proves his devotion to his lovely future wife Rachel (Nicole Beharie), a stabilizing, supportive presence.

The central character pushing Robinson’s advancement into the Major League ranks, thus breaking baseball’s segregation, is Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), a cigar-chomping crusty old white guy who sees Robinson for the talented ballplayer that he is.

To be sure, Rickey wanted to integrate baseball and he settled on Robinson, not just for his athletic abilities, but for his temperament and strength to endure the vitriol and abuse to follow.

Well aware that his move to change the sports world was fraught with risk, Rickey wanted a player with the “guts not to fight back” when provoked. He needed someone with the fortitude to endure the hateful taunts.

To his credit, Helgeland does not gloss over the sheer animosity and ugly fury that would greet Robinson playing with white players, even in Northern cities where race relations were supposedly marginally better.

The news of Robinson’s arrival on the Dodgers team is not greeted with enthusiasm by the white players. Almost to a man, they sign a petition that asks for the black player to be excluded from the team.

An underutilized Dodgers team manager Leo Durocher (Christopher Meloni), with one forceful outburst of vocal support for a talented player of any color, proves as great an influence as the vaunted Branch Rickey.

Proving to be an enthusiastic hustler on the field, gifted base-runner and capable hitter, Robinson slowly wins over most, though clearly not all, of his recalcitrant teammates.

Yet, there is no greater unifying force than a common enemy. In this case, it’s Phillies manager Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk), a racist so vile that his vicious epithets hurled at Robinson turns the tide of public sympathy to the hero’s direction.

Frankly, Chapman’s on-field tirade, whenever Robinson is up at bat, is not only humiliating to the black player, but it comes off as uncomfortably disturbing for the prolonged nature of its loathsome depravity.

While some teammates remain indifferent or subdued, some players, like Ralph Branca (Hamish Linklater) and Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black), embrace Robinson for being a great team player who badly wants to win for his club.

In fact, Pee Wee famously put his arm around Robinson on the baseball field at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, showing his solidarity for a teammate abused by the taunts of the ballpark crowd.

Playing it safe in many respects, “42” is a thing of artistic beauty for its celebration of Jackie Robinson, a fitting tribute to a real hero that Major League Baseball honors each year on April 15.

Yet, unlike its namesake, “42” doesn’t take many creative chances in telling what should be a very complex story. Both Robinson and Rickey come off like candidates for sainthood, as if any character flaws should be ignored.

The star of the show is Chadwick Boseman, a name unfamiliar to most. His Jackie Robinson captures the grace, dignity and athletic prowess of a true American hero. “42” is all the better for his presence, and he makes this film well-worth watching. In baseball parlance, “42” hits a home run.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

NICE, Calif. – Local favorite Ailura Fate makes a special appearance at the Sons of Italy Dance and Benefit on Saturday, April 13, with delicious food catered by Park Place Restaurant.

The event will be held at the Sons of Italy Hall, at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

The no host social hour opens at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6 p.m., and music takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ailura Fate is the combined local talents of powerhouse vocalist Kayla Bell, multi-guitarist Lindy Day, and Native American Music Awards nominee Kevin Village Stone on bass, keyboards, and Native flutes.

Bell, Day, and Village-Stone are professional working musicians and are donating their services for this event as part of their ongoing personal contribution to the community.

Complete with food and drinks the evening includes the full-band sound of Ailura Fate filling the night with dance originals and covers including those by John B, Alicia Keys, Van Morrison, U2, Santana, Adele, along with other popular favorites. Also included are smooth jazz/rock fusion performances of Native American flute and guitars by Kevin Village Stone and Lindy Day.

Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door or can be purchased in advance, which is recommended.

Please call Donna at 707-263-5476 to purchase advance tickets.

For more information on Ailura Fate and its members, visit www.AiluraFate.com .

For more information on Lindy Day or Kevin Village Stone, visit www.WhisperingLight.com .     

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – “The Invisible War” is Second Sunday Cinema’s free film for April 14.

The film will be shown at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave., Clearlake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the film begins at 6 p.m.

Admission is free.

This Oscar-nominated documentary is the film responsible for the current nation-wide conversation about rape in the US military.

Over the past decade alone, “hundreds of thousands” of women have been raped while serving their country – by their fellow soldiers.  

What happens next only deepens the wounds: They are ignored, refused military justice, and often it is they, not their attacker, who is dismissed from service and the career they were building.

Amazingly, this film is not depressing. In part, this is due to the superior production values and vision of the filmmakers.

It’s also due in large part to the strength and courage of the women (and one man) interviewed. The well-researched information is outrageous and galvanizing, but you probably won’t need to bring Kleenex.  

As one enthusiastic reviewer wrote, “Even if you’re not in the military yourself, you should see this film and urge every young woman you know who is considering enlisting to see it first!”

For more information call 707-889-7355.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Find your creative muse by doing exercises that expand not only your knowledge
but your spirit and creative vision too.

Local artist Diana Liebe will teach a weekly watercolor class at the Lake County Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Liebe recently has studied with world-renowned watercolor artist Tom Lynch and would like to share many of his creative ideas with you.  

The classes will take place on Wednesdays, beginning May 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the late spring and summer only.

The class is open to beginners and experienced artists on all levels. Students will need to provide their own supplies.

The cost is $20 per workshop.

For more information call 707-245-7512.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The duo “Not Two” and several guest musicians will perform this Saturday, April 13, as part of the monthly “An Evening With,” hosted by the Lake Community Pride Foundation.

The concert will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lower Lake High School Little Theater, located at 9430 Lake St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Not Two is a duo whose voices at times seem as one, hence the name. All the songs are originals written by Allen Markowski.

Markowski's lyrics are rich filled with humor, pathos, compassion, insight and are complemented by Barbarajo Bloomquist's inventive harmonies.

While Not Two is typically made up of Markowski and Bloomquist, Saturday night's concert will feature Max Lehman on the bass, Herb Gura on the drums, Doug Harris on the guitar and Barbara Christwitz playing her clarinet.

The musical style of Not Two varies widely from blues, folk, bluegrass, country, waltz and much more.

All proceeds go to support youth performing arts in Lake County.

Tickets cost $10 at the door. For tickets and information visit www.aneveningwith.org or call 707-701-3838.

UKIAH, Calif. – Gifted jazz woodwind player and composer Paul McCandless will be the featured musical entertainment at this year’s Gala on the Green Vine & Dine, Mendocino College Foundation’s annual fundraiser to benefit the college’s students and programs.

The event will take place at the main campus in Ukiah on June 1.

Best known for his membership in the jazz and world music group Oregon, McCandless is considered a pioneer of modern instrumental music, and an accomplished player of several instruments including oboe, English horn, bass clarinet, soprano and sopranino saxophones.

As a composer, his work has appeared in a number of film scores. A Grammy winner in 1996 for his work with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, McCandless has collaborated on more than 150 albums, and currently tours with the group Proteus 7.

For the first time, the Gala fundraiser will be held on the Ukiah campus of Mendocino College.

“The timing is right to bring it home,” said Richard Cooper, special events chair and foundation vice president. “Since the last Gala on the Green, we have seen the completion of the cutting-edge Library/Learning Center building while the old library is currently being renovated to become a brand-new student center. Our event will be a fabulous opportunity to see how the college has evolved to continue to be a vital asset to our community.”

Also new this year is the foundation’s partnership with the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program.

MESA’s annual fundraiser, Vine and Dine, will be a part of the Gala. MESA students are playing an active role in the planning and execution of the event now called Gala on the Green Vine & Dine.

“We are always striving to step it up year over year,” said Cooper. “Foundation staff as well as the MESA students led by MESA program director Margaret Sanchez, have been working hard to create this exciting new incarnation of the Gala.”

Prior to the start of the event, guests will have the opportunity to join a walking tour of the campus, including the new Library/Learning Center. After check-in they will find eight appetizer stations, each paired with a complimentary wine pouring.

Dinner will be provided by Nicholas Petti and the Mendocino College Culinary Arts program. Live and silent auctions will feature many unique items, while a wine raffle will provide the chance to win a variety of high-end Lake and Mendocino County wines.

This year’s major sponsors include 94.5 Kwine, Max 93.5 Radio, Skunk Train, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Selzer Realty, TLCD Architecture, and Ukiah Valley Medical Center.

Sponsorship of the musical entertainment for the evening is provided by Kit Elliott and George Husaruk.

Registration for the June 1 event is available online at www.galaonthegreen.org . Admission is $100 per person, with a table of eight for $700, or a premium table of four for $500. The Ukiah campus of Mendocino College is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road.

For more information about the 2013 Gala on the Green Vine & Dine or the Mendocino College Foundation, visit the foundation’s Web site at http://foundation.mendocino.edu .