I did not like this movie

Rating: 3/10 (5 April 2006)

I was excited to see this movie because I thought that Russel Crowe was going to wear a pretty gown and finally meet his prince charming, instead Paul Giamatti groomed him a lot while he trudged around with a long face and dull glassy eyes and pretended that he walked upright. While normally I think that watching boxing is right up there with golf and nascar this film elevated its boxing sequences to a new level of boredom making them something akin to curling. Similar to Seabiscuit, Cinderella Man is an inspiration movie about a hero that uplifted the American spirit during the Great Depression. And what I mean by similar is exactly. Exactly like Seabiscuit. In fact this movie should have been titled, Seabiscuit Fights Craig Bierko. I swear the same guy was doing the announcing and they may have even used the same score and was it just me or did anyone else see Chris Cooper hiding in the back of the gym. If these movies have taught me anything its that the Great Depression wasn't so bad. I mean sure no one had anything to eat but with great heroes, like boxers and horses, to look up to American could thrive on the inspirational music that would swell as yet another underdog beats the odds and succeeds in a stupid violet sport tailored perfectly to make rich men richer and poor shlubs loose money gambling. God Bless American Cinema.