"Now I know what I'm fighting for." - Jim Braddock

Rating: 7/10 (7 June 2005)

I hate Russell Crowe. It's a fact, pure and simple, I just don't like anything about Russell Crowe. I love Ron Howard, and I think he is a marvelous filmmaker who is terribly underrated, but I just do not like Russell Crowe. So, you could imagine I was very skeptical about this film. Every time the previews would show for 'Cinderella Man', whether it be on television or in the movie theaters, I would cringe and sigh. It had nothing to do with Ron Howard, Renee Zellwegger or the brilliant Paul Giamatti, and it wasn't so much I thought the film had a bad premise. It's just like I said, I DON'T CARE FOR RUSSELL CROWE. That's not to say however, he's a bad actor. Crowe is a great actor, but he's just a bad, crude, annoying and disgusting human being. I don't like watching Crowe too much, but I still think he's a very good actor. Going into 'Cinderella Man' I was not expecting of a good film. Well, by some odd chance 'Cinderella Man' turned out to be actually a good film (not a great one), but a good one. It's entertaining and it really gets you into the mindset of boxing. Of course it's unbelievable, but it's just so damn fun to watch. Do I think it should be noticed during Oscar season? No. Would I watch it again? Probably, I might even pick it up on DVD if it's on sale.
'Cinderella Man' is Ron Howard's boxing biopic on legend Jim Braddock(Crowe, of course). Jim was a heavyweight boxer during the Depression Era in New Jersey. Braddock lived like a king in the late 20s, but by the early 30s (right around the time of the Great Depression) Braddock was living in an almost closet-sized dirty home, because everyone had run out of money, and he and his family (his wife Mae (Zellwegger) and three kids) were struggling to get by. The film portrays Jim as an almost saint (although I'm extremely skeptical on how true that is). He is the perfect husband, loving, compassionate, honest and humble. Jim works when he can lifting crates at the docks, and boxing whenever he can. When Jim gets his boxing license revoked, he doesn't know what to do. He was struggling just to get by with the bucks he was getting from boxing. Jim begs to get a break, and eventually his promoter, Joe Gould (Giamatti) gets him a final fight at Madison Square Garden. Now, Braddock has the ultimate inspiration, he's fighting for food or 'milk' for his family so they can survive. May god have mercy on anyone who gets in the ring with Braddock. After Braddock is making bucks fighting, he eventually has to face off the legendary Max Baer (Craig Bierko), whose already murdered two men in the ring. Braddock's wife is scared for him to fight Baer, but in Braddock's heart he knows he has to, to support his family. 'Cinderella Man' is the title of the film because it was Braddock's nickname. They called him that because he he was an older tired boxer who started winning all of a sudden, they said he was like something out of a fairy tale (hence, 'Cinderella Man'.) The movie also stars Bruce McGill (D-Day from Animal House!) as Jimmy Johnston and Paddy Considine (In America) as Mike, Jim's best friend.
'Cinderella Man' posses many good qualities. Ron Howard provides excellent direction and really nails the authenticity of the time period. The acting is very good for the most part, Russell Crowe gives a surprisingly great performance as Jim Braddock. It's one of the better roles I've seen Crowe in. Paul Giamatti (who was recently undeservedly ignored by the Academy last year for his incendiary work in 'Sideways'), is amazing and funny as usual as Braddock's promoter and semi-friend. Bierko is wonderful and frightening as Max Baer, and although Renee Zellwegger was good she is pretty annoying in this role. My biggest complaint about 'Cinderella Man' is it's screenplay. It's not that Academy Award winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman does a crappy job, it's just that he does a sappy job. 'Cinderella Man' unfortunately follows that all-to-familiar boxing movie formula (which only recently 'Million Dollar Baby' broke, and before that in 1980 'Raging Bull' broke it). You know exactly what is going to happen and when it's going to happen, even if you aren't familiar with Braddock's boxing history (I wasn't). The film doesn't throw any curve balls and it doesn't break the tired boxing movie formula for a second. It's an entertaining and easy to like flick, but don't let the film seduce you into thinking it's an Oscar contender. Although I liked the film, it's unoriginal and it's been done before, over and over and over again. Like I said earlier, it portrays Braddock like a saint, which I'm sure he's not. They make Braddock perfect so no matter what you'll cheer for him, when they could have created him with significant faults and still have you cheering for him, like 'Raging Bull'. But that would take one hell of a great screenplay (again, like 'Raging Bull'), and 'Cinderella Man' sadly doesn't have one. They also portray opposing boxer Max Baer as a villain on par with Hitler almost, but I'm sure Baer wasn't as nasty and cold-hearted (maybe). A lot of people kind of bought the whole Braddock being a great human being thing, but I didn't. I mean how could you be such an extraordinary, compassionate and perfect person and beat the crap out of people for a living. But, that's just me going off on a tangent, so I'll just stop talking about that. On another note, fans of the Rocky series will surly love and appreciate it's extraordinary fight sequences with beautiful cinematography and eye-popping direction from the immensely talented Ron Howard. The movie also achieves some heartfelt moments that will move you emotionally. I recommend it. Grade: B