Sensational Film on Every Level

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2005)

Cinderella Man was certainly the best film I saw last year, and will rank among the best films I have ever seen. Ron Howard continues to excel as a brilliantly gifted, responsible, director-producer of films that do not conform to the pressures of commercial popularity. I know that my time watching any one of his movies is time well spent. Any cinema award organization that misses this one should be terminally embarrassed. It deserves a place among the greatest films of all time. So deserving a film, that even with some violence, it earned a PG13 rating!
We seldom see such a skillfully honest, beautifully crafted, occasionally shocking, entertaining, and fascinating portrayal of our nation's recent history that has shaped our present. Cinderella Man has a lot to offer from the realistic settings, to the incredible performances, and well written story line, which both moves and inspires the viewer.
Renee Zellweiger was fabulous as the female lead to Crowe's equally brilliant portrayal of the male lead, and there is hardly a word spoken of her excellent work in any review I have seen. I refuse to believe that it is because she does not play on surface glamor and sexuality to craft her role, popular commercially, but believe that accolades for her deep performance will emerge as more people see the film, now that it has been released on DVD. Esconsed within the story is a tender romance. Crowe continues to amaze with his ability to become another man, and engage us with his character, and the actors in supporting roles were equally excellent and deserving. Paul Giamatti as the agent was compelling, and the bad guys were great also.
Somewhere I saw a review that said that this is film-making the way it once was, and should be, and that is the truth. It deserves top honors for all categories.