★★★★☆ The best sports films are often those where enjoyment is not entirely dependent on a love of the game in question, and Brian Helgeland's 42 (2013) fits that criteria perfectly. Unflinching in its depiction of the legendary Jackie Robinson's journey from the Negro leagues to Major League Baseball, the stirring material is matched by some pitch-perfect performances. That journey begins in 1945, where Brooklyn Dodgers Gm Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) seeks out Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) in a bid to break the colour barrier in baseball. For daring to break that unwritten law, both manager and athlete are branded outcasts.

Robinson bearing the brunt of the abuse from players and fans alike. As Rickey repeatedly warns, Robinson must “have the guts not to fight back” if his talent is to shine. Helgeland does a great job at showing Robinson's prowess on the field; the well realised baseball sequences show a clear love of the game,...