Cinderella Man battling against Rocky?

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2012)

Cinderella Man is hard hitting boxing film set around the time of depression in 1930's America. I know what immediately comes to your mind, "Rocky with a 1930's twist" Well for today we will let Rocky have a day off so he can listen to the rest of the Survivor album which he seems to have failed to get through. Instead we're going to dabble through the true story of James Braddock (Russell Crowe) and see if Cinderella Man deserves to gain its own status and come out on top.
The film is directed by Ron Howard who has worked on successful productions such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. Howard has reunited with Russell Crowe from previous work on A Beautiful Mind (2001) and been partnered up with Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones's Diary). The story follows the Braddock family of James (Crowe), Mae (Zellweger) and their three children in the time of The Great Depression in America. James, better known as Jimmy in the film, has an up and down boxing career which causes problems for him and his family throughout the narrative.
So here's a question for you, how does a marriage between the once supreme Gladiator fighter and an ex-Granny pant wearing enthusiast work? Well as it turns out it works pretty damn good. Crowe and Zellweger's performance is truly magnificent and creates a roller coaster ride of emotions the audience are hurled through. Jimmy is the protective, admirable, role model that almost has a super human quality due to the support and recognition gained from other characters in the storyline. Mae is the constant stay-at-home housewife who is constantly worrying about her husband and family's well being. The roles played by both actors are sublime, helping recreate the once lived story of the Braddock family and bring the performance to life. The actors are so believable that we feel every emotion they deal with and take every punch along with them, making the filmic experience of Cinderella Man all the more impressive.
The film doesn't just boast some of the best acting but impresses with the technical aspects it has incorporated. Scenes where Jimmy is fighting utilise quick paced cuts between punches and movements to really help the adrenaline flow through our system. I was certainly on the edge of my seat, weaving and dodging fists that were thrown Jimmy's way and gritting my teeth together when his punches are set in motion. The witty way shots from Jimmy's fights move from family and friend's reactions are successfully fashioned. The flash photography from the journalists in one scene particularly impressed me as with every flash it seems to jump to a different camera angle and with heavy punches that seem to knock down the camera the cut to the bar where friends are listening on the radio are almost unnoticed due of the tightness in continuity editing. This all smartly links to what is going through Jimmy's mind when fighting and the interpolation linking back and forth in his mind and through scenes really help us be a part of the film.
Cinderella Man for me really deserves praise and recognition and for anyone who hasn't seen it should highly consider doing so. You don't have to be a fan of boxing to enjoy this spectacle as there are many elements and angles that the film portrays, opening itself to a wide range of audiences. Going back to the theme of Rocky I feel is a way in which I can best explain the effect and success of Cinderella Man. Any fan of the Rocky series is sure to love this production and personally it stands out above it in terms of acting competence and its technical capability. I made my brother watch this with me, who is a fan of Rocky and I explained to him my thoughts before watching, he seemed unconvinced so I let the film do the talking for me. I think it was safe to say that his jaw was nicely dropped to the floor as though he'd just gone toe to toe with Jimmy himself. He too found himself being caught up in the moment the film wants you to and are shouting out just like the crowds watching the events. For me, Cinderella Man not only packs two hard punches to make it a huge hit but earns two thumbs up and my highest approval.