A truly wonderful film, unfairly overlooked

Rating: 8/10 (27 October 2005)

Ron Howard is an interesting director, because that there's nothing interesting about him at all. He doesn't wear all black and make spooky Gothic movies; he doesn't wear thick-rimmed glasses, talk nervously and make movies about himself; he doesn't have three names. He is just a regular person who makes totally regular movies. The thing is, he makes GOOD regular movies. They don't have anything particularly special or unique about them, but they're just good all around. It was true with 'Willow', it was true with 'Apollo 13', and it was true with 'A Beautiful Mind'. Now, it's true with 'Cinderella Man'. And this isn't a bad thing at all  on the contrary.
Jim Braddock's character is masterfully constructed. Not in a very long time has anybody played such a downright nice man as Jim Braddock. Despite the poverty, the hopelessness, and his losing fights during the Great Depression, Braddock always remains levelheaded, sweet-tempered and concerned about his family above all. I can't recall one boxing movie in which the boxer wasn't a mean, grumpy man (Raging Bull) or single and tough ('Rocky'). This is the only boxing movie I know in which the boxer is a sweet, loving family man, married and with children nonetheless.
The acting is superb all around, and I couldn't expect less of the performers involved. Russell Crowe ('Gladiator', 'A Beautiful Mind', 'Master & Commander'), while unpredictable and hard to control, is still, I believe, one of the most talented actors working today. His performance in this film is beyond sensational. It's not just in the dramatic moments: it's also the little nuances he includes in his performance, such as in the scene in which he returns to his old boxing bosses and asks them for money to help him pay the electric bill. The look of humiliation and humbleness in his eyes when he walks into that room is priceless. Renee Zelwegger ('Bridget Jones's Diary', 'Chicago', 'Cold Mountain'), another one of my favorite working actresses, also delivers a strong and brilliant performance. She plays Braddock's wife, Mae. Paul Giamatti truly stands out, though, as Joe Gould, Braddock's manager. I believe that Giamatti, a rising lead actor in recent films 'American Splendor' and 'Sideways', is one of the more underrated actors in Hollywood today. His acting is esteemed by critics, but is shunned by his peers in Hollywood. Perhaps his performance in Cinderella Man will finally get him the Oscar nomination he deserved for American Splendor and Sideways.
The editing is outstanding. The fights are particularly well edited. The pace is fast, but the editing isn't quick, or rushed. It really pulls you right into the fight, though, and totally engages you. The cinematography, too, is impressive, especially during the boxing scenes. The inter-cutting of point-of-view shots with subjective shots of the two boxers is executed excellently. The cuts occur at just the right times, and the overall effect really lets you feel the adrenaline of the fight.
Like most boxing movies (Raging Bull and Million Dollar Baby, at least), Cinderella Man isn't even about the boxing. In fact, for most of the middle part of the movie there is no boxing at all: instead, the film portrays how Braddock, his wife, Mae, and their three kids, struggle to survive in the poverty of the Great Depression. The story of a family in the midst of the Great Depression is as compelling as the boxing story. Braddock portrays a much-needed role model, devoted first and foremost to his family. The historical and socio-economic background was powerfully shown and greatly added to the audience's involvement and is particularly relevant to today.
But the audience's involvement reaches a peak during the boxing scenes. A combination of identification with Braddock's sympathetic character, masterful directing and flawless editing and cinematography make the boxing scenes, especially the final one, heart pounding, compelling and totally gripping. My heart jumped with every swing, and my grip on the seat handle tightened with every punch. When the audience becomes SO involved with what occurs on the screen, that's the single most prominent sign of good film-making.
Of course, the more minor technical aspects of the film are perfect. You couldn't expect less of a period film, really, but it's still an aspect to note: The costumes, sets, production design, lighting, even the props are all top-notch.
The film tries its best to avoid clichés, but in some instances, it's hard to do so. It's a regular riches-to rags-to riches story, and the boxing scenes also don't have anything ground-breaking and different about them, but you have to remember that this is a biographical film, and the events that occur in it are all true. Sure, the riches-to rags-to riches story in the film does seem a little far-fetched, but this was the true story of Jim Braddock, and so all clichés in the film are forgiven.
Unfortunately and disappointingly, Cinderella Man was not a success in North America, even though it has all the signs to be a real winning and successful movie. Although the movie received very good reviews from critics and audiences, it faired relatively poorly at the box office. Perhaps it was the timing, as these "Oscar" movies are usually released in November and December, and not in June, when Cinderella Man was released in North America. Moviegoers look for summer blockbusters in June, and not dramas such as this one. Or perhaps Russell Crowe's hotel phone-throwing fiasco turned audiences off. Whatever the reason, I hope the movie's DVD release will incite a new interest in it, just in time for the Oscars.
This is a truly wonderful film, unfairly overlooked, and I hope will impress some Oscar voters. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.