A Gripping Story

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2005)

If you've ever heard people who grew up in the nineteen-thirties talk about hardships they either endured or witnessed, you'll notice that Cinderella MAN deals realistically with that era. Russell Crowe was born to act. Zellwegger does very well in the always-thankless role of a sports hero's wife. Jimmy Braddock's situation is compelling and the story moves along. The boxing scenes are very suspenseful. Paul Giamatti is the heart of the movie, perhaps. He's got a sense of pathos. This is an evenhanded movie with shades of ROCKY, ON THE WATERFRONT and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Clint Howard is a perfect referee. Running commentary by a radio reporter during the boxing matches helps evoke the era. It's an involving, diverting and thoughtful movie.