An Excellent and Suspenseful Underdog Drama

Rating: 9/10 (10 July 2005)

"Cinderella Man" is easily the best movie I've seen so far this year. It's a very well crafted film that takes its time establishing characters and setting before it launches into one of the greatest underdog stories ever told. One advice to anyone who have not seen this movie: If you do not know the story of boxer Jim Braddock (as I didn't) then do not look it up. Maybe you shouldn't even read reviews, as some have a tendency to contain spoilers when they discuss stories that the reviewer considers common knowledge. The reason I encourage you limit your knowledge of this story, is because the final 20-30 minutes of "Cinderella Man" are some of the most suspenseful I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing in a movie theater.
As mentioned, the beginning of the film is spent establishing and developing the characters, showing what kind of man Jim Braddock is and where his values lie, and the hardship that is affecting him and many other people during the Great Depression. There are a few moments here which some may find overly cliché filled or sentimental, but they work really well within the framework and mood of the story. Some of of these moments also serve to set up events that take place later in the film. Events which actually occurred, as per Braddock's living relatives.
Once characters and setting have been sufficiently established, the film goes on to tackle the boxing underdog story that got this movie made in the first place. While this part is heavier on the boxing aspect of the story, it does not leave behind what it carefully spent the first part building up. Braddock's family and neighbourhood are still playing a central part of the story, and serves as the emotional core and anchor point for the main character. It's in large part due to this very careful setup that the audience comes to care for Braddock as much as they do, which in turn serves to deepen the suspense felt during the finale.
It's on purpose that I've avoided describing the plot in detail. I feel that this is one of those movies which benefit from its audience knowing as little as possible about it. Instead, it's easier to say that if you are the kind of person who loves a good underdog story and who do not mind a slowly building storyline that takes its time to do it right, and who are not so cynical as to not be able to deal with sentimental storytelling, then "Cinderella Man" is right up your alley.