Cinderella Man (2005)

Very Cool!!!

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Packing harder punches than legendary director Martin Scorsese's boxing epic "RAGING BULL" is the larger than life fact based underdog story of New Jersey boxer James Braddock and the emotionally piercing heartfelt struggles that he and his family sustained during the Great Depression. A film critic from "TIME OUT" magazine said it best when he stated that "the affection for Braddock and his story can be felt in every frame and heard in every word." Ron Howard's extraordinarily unforgettable "CINDERELLA MAN" in my strongest opinion is the greatest boxing film of all time. A genuine cinematic masterpiece that emotionally brings you to both your knees and to your feet and will forever be a surefire lock in my "TOP 20 MUST SEE FILMS BEFORE YOU DIE." This critically acclaimed film is an absolute best for the impressive and illustrious careers of both director Ron Howard (Apollo 13) and lead actor Russell Crowe (Gladiator). Russell Crowe's magnetic and visceral portrayal of boxing underdog James Braddock is still to this very day one of the most phenomenal acting performances of all time.

(Flash Review)Boxer James Braddock became an inspirational hero during the Great Depression as he like many others felt the true blow of poverty and fought his way back to his feet. He began his boxing career with lots of promise and potential until a couple of injuries derailed his hopes as the country's economy collapsed. His passion or desperation to get and keep his family out of poverty helped drive his miraculous boxing comeback. A very high quality and well-acted story told in a very expected and traditional way. Similarities to Rocky's story with the grit and determination but family was at stake for Braddock rather than just personal pride. The boxing scenes were well-shot and the editing was solid as a close to 2.5hr film didn't feel long. Quality.

In the Cinderella man, Russel Crowe who is starring as James J Braddock is a boxer in the Great Depression. Knows as the Cinderella man, he became one of the greatest sports sensations in the History of Boxing. In the early 1930's Braddock body, was wrecked down, crushed up and was not as good of a fighter as he once was. At this point in his career, he is struggling, and he is fighting with a broken hand. His wife Renée Zellweger starring as Mae Braddock hates his profession, but still tend to support him even though she is scared that he might get injured. His wife wishes, he quits the sport altogether but knows that they need the extra funds to survive. Watering down milk to get by a few extra days, and living with no heat has become the common routine for Braddock's family.The main theme of the story is that it is like a fairy tale, hence the name the Cinderella Man. Throughout the movie, you can see that Braddock handled the depression differently, compared to everyone else. He did not let it break him even though, he was going through a series of hardships and adversity with his family. From getting his boxing silence revoked, due to the fact his matches were not providing the necessary hype that promoters wanted he still had hope. He tried in any way to help his family, to make it through. Unfortunately, due to the unfortunate circumstances, for the fear of the kids getting sick, Mae send her children to her family. This is the breaking point for James and he is very devastated. He starts to get on government assistance and asks for additional help from his boxing team and his manager Paul Giamatti, known as Joe Gould.The effect of editorial cutting and transition of the pace of the film was very effective. It helped portray the life struggled of the depression and what the Braddock family was going through. The constant flashbacks, throughout the end of the film played a major role and made the audience realize who James was really fighting for. The background music played a major role as well because it provided the mood of which the scene was heading towards. When James had to bury his friend Mike Wilson, the music was very sad and miserable.The theme is like the movie the "Invincible" which has the fairy like theme, of an underdog making it at the very end and proving everyone else wrong. As the movie goes on Joe pays a visit to James. He offers him a fight to fight the 2nd contender in the World. James is miraculously able to beat him and this is the beginning of the great winning streak. Joe convinces his Boss, to give James another chance and he is able to get another shot. This goes on until James end up beating the world heavyweight champion and make world history. This to a lot of people meant that Hope was on the way especially in those times. There was priest, churches and everyone in the community rooting for James. It was like a fairy tale, which is why the Cinderrela Man is a great title for this movie.

Cinderella Man is the story of James J. Braddock, played by Russell Crowe, who is an upcoming boxer that goes from riches to rags, and then back to riches.  Braddock's wife Mae Braddock, played by Renee Zellweger, does not like that Braddock fights.  The couple experiences many ups and downs throughout the movie.  Right before the Great Depression started Braddock was winning fights and able to support his family financially.  Then with a bad streak of luck, the Depression hits and Braddock starts losing fight after fight.  After losing many fights, the boxing commission kicks Braddock out and tells him he is no longer allowed to fight.  With no way to pay the bills, and a broken hand, Braddock goes to the docks to try to earn some money.  Things continue to go south for the Braddock family.  They can not afford to keep the lights on, get milk, and do not have enough money to feed their children.  Mae sends the children away to live with her family without talking to her husband.  Braddock has to suck up his pride and go to the same boxing commission that told him he was no longer able to fight and asked them for money so he could get his electricity turned back on.  Finally, things started to turn around when Braddock's manager Joe Gould, played by Paul Giamatti, is able to get Braddock a one-time fight.  To everyone's surprise, Braddock wins this fight, and the commission lets him back into league.  Fueled by the last several years of poverty, heartache, and passion Jim continues to win and becomes the number one contender, and eventually takes home the title of the world's heavy weight champion. The two main themes of the movie Cinderella Man were loyalty and to never give up on your dreams.  Braddock's manager, Gould, never gave up on Braddock.  He was able to get him another fight and sold his furniture to help finance Braddock's comeback. Gould had Braddock's back throughout his entire career. If Braddock would have given up boxing he would have never been the world's heavy weight champion.      It appears that Cinderella Man and Rocky are very closed related.  Both movies have main characters that symbolize strength and courage.  They are both the struggling underdogs in a one time fight and end up winning their fight.  By winning the fight, they were able to change their lives.  Rocky and Braddock also had the support of the people on their side.  The film's director Ron Howard, uses several extreme close-ups during the boxing scene.  During the close-ups of the fighters, we see the exhaustion from their faces.  Along with close-ups, slow motion is used to help emphasize the speed and the power of the punches.  As the film is based during the Depression years, the lighting is dark with very few bright colors.   During several of the fights, we are able to experience a subjective point of view.  This allows us to see the punch that is coming to hit Braddock. As Braddock showed us, you should never give up on your dreams even if things take a turn for the worst.  Continued dedication and hard work will eventually pay off.