Another Beautiful Mind

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2005)

This is a true story about Jim Braddock (Crowe) who boxes and works on the docks to keep his family going during the Great Depression.
Ron Howard seems to find beautiful minds to tell a story about. He directed Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind; and here he directs Russell Crowe in The Cinderella Man. But, this beautiful mind is not filled with math equations, but instead a mind consumed with doing the right thing no matter how difficult life turns out to be, and believe me it was a difficult life. He is as perfect or beautiful a human being as anyone can get. He is a good husband, father, and friend no matter what was thrown at him. If we could all wake up the next morning and say, "I want to be like Jim Braddock" this would be a better world. I am a little older than most and I still want to grow up to be like Jim Braddock.
If it weren't for people like Ron Howard and producers who take the risks of presenting stories like this we would have no clue, and they must be thanked time and time again.
Yes, I have heard about Max Baer (former Heavyweight champion of the world), but I had never heard the name Jim Braddock when anyone talked about the fight game. What a story!
The supporting cast was nothing short of perfect or beautiful too. Renee Zellweger, as Braddock's wife, lost that facial grimace that seemed to tell the world, "I just ate a lemon." I almost didn't recognize her and she is truly beautiful and one of our best actresses. Paul Giamatti lost that Richard Shiff (Toby, on the West Wing TV show) look and delivery (see Sideways) and was outstanding as Braddock's manager and trainer. Everyone was great. Can't say enough about the cast.
I think all the performances were truly great, however, if anyone is talking Oscar, I would have to say the story and the direction overpowered everything. What a story! And, we are just learning about this now?
Oh, yes there was some boxing in here too. Okay, a lot of boxing. The fight scenes were very good, but it's Braddock's story that is the most compelling. Actually, it is Braddock who is the most compelling.
I think it's safe to say that Damon Runyon in one of his columns called Jim Braddock The Cinderella Man. Braddock's wife mentions that it sounded "girly." Believe me, there is nothing girly about Braddock.