Amazing. The Best Film of '05 So Far

Rating: 10/10 (5 June 2005)

I went to see Cinderella Man last night not expecting much more than a good acting job from Giamatti and Crowe. Was I way off! The film follows the true-life story of legendary boxer James Braddock through his life during the Great Depression. The film starts with Jim breaking his hand, thus ending his prominent career and the family entering the Great Depression.
Jim, his wife Mae, and their three kids struggle to survive through the winter of 1933 and to make ends meet to pay for electricity. Soon Jim is desperate for money and his ex-coach Joe Gould shows up wanting to help. He says that he has a fight for him against up-and-coming boxer Corn Lewis. After an unbelievable match, the underdog, who was picked to be K.O. in the first round wins. His life is now sent into boxing again, something he never thought he'd do again.
The film is beautifully filmed rotating from shots of the boxing ring to the Hooverville in Central Park. The fight scenes (boxing actually) are creatively edited and filmed with style. You really get sense for the fighters and actually feel like your getting hit at a few scenes. But each fight scene is in good taste and truly shows what Braddock had to overcome. Not to much blood which also I think helped the fight scenes.
Russel Crowe is good as ever but overshadowing him is my new favorite actor Paul Giamatti playing Joe. Giamatti is a bit of comic relief, a sense of hope, and a caring character destined to help his friend and partner. Renee Zellweger is better then usual, she isn't annoying and gives an excellent performance. Even Craig Bierko is able to portray Max Baer (Braddock's foe in the final bout) as a strong, impressive boxer, capable of killing his opponent in the ring.
One down side is some parts of the movie are a bit to sentimental. But even those are few and far between. Character development is average. Renee Zellweger's character is never really developed nor the family. Giamatti and Crowe's character's expand though and develop. Still the story is good, you almost want to cry at some scenes and you're on the edge of your seat ever fight scene, especially the final with Baer. This film is just a step below Raging Bull (1980) which is pretty good considering that Raging Bull is one of the best films ever made.
Cinderella Man. Starring: Russel Crowe, Paul Giamatti, Renee Zellweger, Connor Price, Craig Bierko, and Paddy Considine.
5 out of 5 Stars.