An Inspirational, Moving Story...

Rating: 10/10 (27 April 2013)

Obviously, if you want to see a movie about actual boxing, this is not the one for you. The story is about a struggling boxer and the great depression; boxing itself is not the focal point. But it DOES have more ring scenes than "Rocky"...
Movies like "Cinderella Man" tend to have one major issue: they often feel too ritzy, which renders them unconvincing. This was one of the few movies that managed to portray the period of the great depression very believably. The movie is quite atmospheric and has a genuine feel of despair to it.
The acting is impeccable. In the beginning, I was not sure about Renee Z.; they didn't seem to be a good match, but both actors are very good, so they pulled it off. The chemistry was probably fake, but it was present. The supporting actors, including the kids, were also very good.
The movie was not exactly suspenseful, but there were practically no cheesy moments and it wasn't predictable, which is something I greatly appreciate in a film. There was some humour, too. All in all, the movie feels realistic, the story is compelling, and the lead characters are likable and charismatic.
A heart-warming, inspirational movie. Definitely worth adding to your movie collection, even if you're not a huge fan of drama.