Overlong biopic with historical inaccuracies is redeemed somewhat by performances

Rating: 6/10 (5 July 2006)

A lot of my problems with this movie has to do with me and the fact that I am part of a bygone generation.
I found this picture an ordeal to watch during most of its first 90 minutes. Yes, I understand that it takes place during the Great Depression. But, I didn't need Director Howard to actually immerse me in scene after scene of Depression-era bleakness to understand what that meant. I am also from the era where clever rapid-fire dialog gave a boxing movie its pace and rhythm. Today's movie-making seems to consider it a badge of honor to use as little dialog and as many visuals with music as possible. If this was a boxing movie from that era, it would have run 105 minutes at most, not 144 minutes. I also found Crowe's mumbling very hard to understand (probably time that I got an ear trumpet).
Finally, the portrayal of Max Baer by Craig Bielko seemed unlike the Baer I've seen interviewed and in movies. The "Jewish Bomber" as he was known (and at his comedic best in Africa Screams with A & C) was generally witty and fairly soft-spoken for a boxer. I knew of one lethal incident (need to check on the other) but he was very humble about that, not bragging. And, he was not known as the talker and showman in the ring as depicted. Unless someone has other info, I believe that this was all the invention of this movie.
All this said, in the scenes in which he is audible, Crowe is magnificent, and Giamatti is even better. Zellweger -- one of the top actresses of her generation in my opinion -- has a rather thankless character and makes her as human as possible. Bruce McGill and others as already noted also provide excellent support. And, I simply loved Rance Howard, Ron's father, as a cynical announcer. In the end, the triumph of James J. Braddock is well-told once the story threads win out in importance over the Depression-era atmosphere.