You've seen it before, but rarely this good.

Rating: 8/10 (4 October 2005)

From the moment you start watching Cinderella Man, in the back of your mind you realise where it is going to end. It is an old Hollywood story that we have all seen many times before, however, only every once and a while is the complete winning formula relayed onto the screen.
After last years masterpiece in Million Dollar Baby many have said that the boxing movie has had its resurrection and is due to be packed away for a few more years until a fresh new face comes along to tackle the topic again. But for two years running now, boxing movies have delivered the knockout punches.
Basically, Cinderella Man is a wonderful film. We are taken back into 1920's America where down and out boxer Jim Braddock is struggling to keep food on the table for his wife and three kids, as the depression strikes. Braddock's boxing career is coming to an end, too old and injured to fight. Too little work around to feed the family, and the hard times hit. After a few years off the scene a come by chance boxing resurrection comes Braddock's way. From here we follow Braddock in his quest to climb to the top of the American boxing ranks, even if he is an old has been.
Firstly, the acting is superb. Russell Crowe delivers a stellar performance as the Irish boxer. Crowe creates his character with ridiculous ease, there is not a single moment where he slips, if not his greatest performance it is on a par with A Beautiful Mind. Zelwegger is great (especially in the final scenes of the film - where she doesn't even deliver a line) Giamatti is also first rate. Honestly, you could not pick a single character in the film that was poorly cast or acted.
Ron Howards direction is of course excellent, each scene makes us feel like we are right in the thick of the action (the crowds at the fights really make you feel like you are there, the cheering is sensational). To start picking out faults in the film would be unfair, because as an entire it is near flawless and to attract attention to the issues one has with certain aspects would be silly.
There is no doubt you have seen this story before, but rarely is it told this good. And when delivered with such heart, energy and elegance you have no choice but to sit back and savour every moment. 8/10