Excellent movie of the times, a must see.

Rating: 10/10 (3 June 2005)

The story takes place in New York and New Jersey during the Great Depression, a time when people experienced the worst economic hardship in U.S. history. James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) was a light heavyweight boxer, who was forced to retired from the ring after breaking his hand in his last fight. His wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) had prayed for years that he would quit boxing, before becoming permanently injured. To support his family, Braddock works as a laborer at the docks, but he still has a dream to box. Several years after his last fight, Braddock's old manager wants him to be a last-minute substitute to fight against the second-ranked world contender. In this case, Braddock is one of those hungry fighters who astonishes everyone by winning the fight. Braddock is back in the ring and begins to win all his fights against younger, stronger, and heavier boxers. In a sports article, Braddock is named the "Cinderella Man" for his miraculous comeback. Braddock gets a chance to fight the heavyweight champion, Max Baer (Craig Bierko), for the title. Max Baer had killed two men in the ring, and everybody believed Braddock would be number three. As the underdog, Braddock became the champion of the downtrodden masses.
This is one of the best movies of the year. This time, the ads about the movie are correct and not hyped. The storyline and acting is great. You are taken back in time, and you feel the pain of the Great Depression. The fighting is brutal and looks so real. Actually, I was tired after the movie, because I was fighting with Braddock. This movie will win several Academy Awards and is a must see. (Universal Pictures, Run time 2:24, Rated PG-13) (10/10)