A Throwback to the Golden Age of Hollywood

Rating: Null/10 (18 June 2005)

Inspirational story of James Braddock, a boxer who once was on top of the world, lost it all in the Depression, then got it all back through a series of happenstances, in the process becoming a symbol of hope for Americans still struggling through the Depression. A throwback to the Golden Age of Hollywood: a straight-up, unironic, unapologetic paean to family, courage, fidelity, love, faith, hard work and the American dream. Crowe is excellent as the noble Braddock: he manages to make goodness interesting, which is not an easy thing to do. (He does it through not seeming aware of his own virtue.) The supporting cast is good, with Bierko a fine, leering Max Baer. The production design is faultless, you can almost smell the poverty depicted. The fights are well choreographed, with the final Braddock/Baer confrontation being an excellent restaging of the fight.