familiar but moving and triumphant just the same

Rating: Null/10 (13 May 2020)

The producing-directing team of A Beautiful Mind crafted this true story of an impoverished Irish-American boxer from Jersey. It's the Depression Era, and James J. Braddock is the "Bulldog of Bergen," a tenacious but aging boxer who's too heavy, too slow, and too old to keep fighting. He takes an unsteady job as a longshoreman to support his wife and three kids until he's given a rare second chance to compete in the sport he loves, but at what cost? Not only an engaging sports bio, but also a close examination of domestic life and vivid reminder of the harsh reality that people faced while struggling to support themselves during a very bleak time in American history. Crowe looks stellar in the ring, but is equally good outside of it, and he's got admirable support from fiery Giamatti and empathetic Zellweger. It's awash with familiar story elements, but they're presented with raw emotion and depth. ***