Jim Braddock, a hero then should be a hero now

Rating: 9/10 (25 August 2005)

I must say that few movies in today's cinema world present the public with characters that can be admired, lauded, and emulated to the improvement of the real world. Granted, what people count as admirable or praiseworthy characteristics are about as diverse as the characters in today's cinema world (I am often reminded of the conversation between Commodus and Marcus Aurelius in "Gladiator"), but I personally was impressed with and compelled by the character of Jim Braddock in "Cinderella Man".
Before I go too much more into Jim Braddock's character, I want to comment that I myself am a boxing fan in some respects, but the concept of boxing, if seriously pondered, leads me to conclude that making a sport out of two people harming one another with the purpose of causing enough damage to your opponent that he or she loses consciousness makes reason stare. But like Jim says in the movie, people die all the time but someone's found a way to make money off of it in boxing.
Apart from the boxing part of the story, of which there is surprisingly little in the first half of the movie, I found the story of survival without moral compromise to be almost without equal in the film world today. Additionally, the fact that this is based on a true story makes Jim's character and the story of "Cinderella Man" even more noteworthy.
I watched with considerable discomfort and pain the suffering of that little family in the throes of the great depression. My emotional commitment was even greater as I watched Jim's optimism, self-sacrifice, and nobility pressed to their limits. I was moved as I watched him overcome each trial with humble, dignified determination. For me his character was polished with every challenge he faced and overcame, shining brighter and brighter as the film progressed.
I loved this film because of Jim Braddock. Ron Howard's talent is remarkable, but I have found myself more compelled by the boxing in other films. But what this film has is a truly heroic character whose story happens to involve boxing. Had Jim Braddock been a basketball player or a skateboarder, I think the story would have, in many respects, worked just as well. For me, this movie isn't as much about boxing as "Million Dollar Baby" or "Rocky." In this movie you watch Jim fight to survive outside of the ring more than you watch him fight inside the ring. But it's the story of this man's fights, and how relentless, punishing, and overwhelming those fights are, watching this everyman overcomes fight after fight, integrity intact, that makes this movie great.
Jim Braddock is the kind of movie hero, and real world hero, that we need to see more of today. The quality of his character is of equal value, and I think greater need, today as it was in the 1930's. What a remarkable story. What a remarkable man.