Braddock and Max Baer

Rating: 7/10 (11 March 2006)

This really is an excellent movie in many respects. Paul Giamatti should have won an Oscar for his supporting role, and the acting, directing, and story were excellent. Just one big quibble, which was the description of Max Baer as a "killer." Truth to tell, Baer did kill an opponent in the ring, and he had one of the strongest punches of any fighter. But the film doesn't tell you that he had nightmares for years about the incident, contributed money to the family of the man he killed, and apparently even paid to send his children to college. Given all that, I doubt that he promoted himself as a killer or teased Mrs. Braddock with the risk that she might become a widow!