Cinderella Man

Rating: 8/10 (13 December 2006)

I thought Cinderella Man was such a wonderful movie! I have seen several boxing films and was not expecting a lot from this one. Although this film tells a story similar to most other sports filmsone of redemption and successit made me feel like I have never seen a film with this particular theme. Jimmy Braddock portrays the human Seabiscuit and struggles through the Great Depression like most other families during the early 1930s. The film's plot kept me interested and I really enjoyed the classical music throughout. The cinematography and editing were also outstanding! I think the boxing matches showed the skilled cinematographer's and editor's talent and creativity. There were several quick shots throughout the matches and I felt close to Jimmy as he was seeing it in his perspective. After Jimmy got hit, the camera blurred and during the flashbacks the camera used darker colors to show his past. The mise en scene was excellent as well. The setting seemed accurate and it really did look like it was shot in New York and New Jersey. The lighting was appropriate in each situation; darker during the harder times and golden and lighter near the end and at the very beginning. The costumes also seemed a great fit and throughout the movie the men wore their suits and ties, which I read was what they really did. This showed they had not given up hope and it kept up their appearances, which was one of the only things many American citizens still had after they were hit hard by the Great Depression.