When formula rises far and above the norm.

Rating: 9/10 (17 July 2005)

It's not like there haven't already been any boxing movies (Million Dollar Baby), or Depression era "underdog sports icon gives hope to the common man" movies (Seabiscuit) done in the last couple years. Even Russell Crowe seemed at times to be retreading his role from Gladiator, the former hero who meets misfortune but rises back up against the odds. But although Cinderalla Man doesn't bring any new themes to the screen, and yes, is a little on the formulaic side, somehow it does everything so -right- that it's easily one of the top films of the year.
Crowe, Renée Zellweger, and Paul Giamatti form a triumvirate of strong performances, each complementing the other and not one overacting his or her role. Some superb directing and camera-work led to the most intense fight scenes I've ever seen in a movie about boxing, as well as memorable moments outside of the ring (my favorites include a clever bit of bait-and-switch perspective at Joe's apartment, and a priceless shot when Jimmy teaches his young daughter how to punch him in the head).
The period sets are beautifully crafted and believable, to the point where you can almost taste the hunger and desperation felt by all but the wealthiest. There's also something to be said about the value of understatement, of which Cinderella Man does a very good job; the story moves along from scene to scene without coddling the audience by showing everything, and as a result never drags or has a dull moment.
In a couple small spots, formula rears its head - most noticeably the "time to get in shape" training montage seen in just about every sports movie in existence - but luckily the quality of direction, acting, and production value is enough to set this one apart from average fare. A masterful setup going into the third act gives you a very real sense of fear and uncertainty right before that final fight everyone knows is coming; all but the most jaded film viewers are guaranteed to be on edge because by this time, you'll genuinely care about Jim's survival.
With so many things done well, I can think of very little that needs to be changed. Top-notch material all around.