Cinderella Man (2005) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer who came back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON TV a list of 25 titles created 28 Dec 2010 a list of 35 titles created 30 Sep 2011 a list of 22 titles created 21 Jan 2013 a list of 43 titles created 31 Jan 2013 a list of 37 titles created 16 Mar 2013 Search for " Cinderella Man " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 40 nominations.

See more awards » Videos Edit Storyline During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, ... Written by Sujit R.

Varma When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet. See more » Genres: Rated PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 3 June 2005 (USA) See more » Also Known As: $18,320,205 (USA) (3 June 2005) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia In reality after Max Baer had killed Frankie Campbell in the ring, he stayed by his side for 30 minutes, waiting for the ambulance to arrive, and spent time with him and his family at the hospital, telling Frankie's wife how sorry he was. The next day he was pronounced dead, after hearing this Max Baer broke down in tears. See more » Goofs In a shot of Joe Gould sitting in his car, you can clearly see the leaves of a palm tree reflected in the automobile's window. This scene takes place in the New York/New Jersey area, where there are no palm trees.

See more » Quotes See more » Crazy Credits Before the title appears the following: "In all the history of the boxing game, you'll find no human interest story to compare with the life narrative of James J. Braddock." - Damon Runyon (1936) See more » Connections James J. Braddock: Gladiator of the Great Depression 3 June 2005 | by lavatch (Twin Cities, Minnesota) – See all my reviews "Cinderella Man" deserves to be placed alongside other great biographical films dealing with the lives and times of great boxers. Such films include "Raging Bull," "The Joe Louis Story," "Ali," "The Hurricane," and "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story." These films share in common not just a documentary-like approach to boxing or a superficial biopic. They also portray the human side of a modern gladiator and the culture that produced him. In the case of "Cinderella Man," we are given a detailed and heart-rending portrait of the Great Depression in American. The story of the gentleman pugilist James J. Braddock is the backdrop to the larger drama of Americans' struggle in the 1930s.

Russell Crowe provides a brilliant interpretation of Braddock, capturing the decency of a man whose career as a boxer would appear to have peaked at just the wrong time prior to the Crash of 1929. After that momentous event, Braddock's boxing went into decline just like the lives of millions of Americans. The scenes of Braddock and his family living in squalid conditions and with uncertainty about such basics as heat and electricity were carefully developed in the film. Renée Zellweger was outstanding as Mae, the caring but feisty wife of Braddock. Paul Giamatti was also excellent as Braddock's handler-manager, Joe Gould. Joe tries to keep up appearances by sporting fancy clothes. But in one revealing scene in the film when we see the interior of Joe's ostensibly swanky apartment, there is no fancy furniture other than a dowdy table and some flimsy deck chairs. Everyone is reeling from the Depression. In the depiction of the massive unemployment, the "Hoovervilles" of the homeless residing in Central Park, and the desperate need for Americans for an optimistic icon like Braddock to raise their spirits, the film truly captured the tragedy of the Great American Depression.

The film's director Ron Howard emphasized close-ups throughout the film with uneven results. In many of the boxing sequences, the close-ups and rapid editing made it difficult tell the fighters apart. The close-ups continued even into the domestic scenes and the outdoor sequences depicting Braddock working as a longshoreman. The film's dark cinematography conveyed the bleakness of the Depression years, but it worked against bringing out the buoyant spirit of Braddock himself and the optimism that he instilled in others. As a director, Howard's strength is not in film artistry or technique. As apparent in this and other films, his gift lies in narrative storytelling and the development of dramatic character. Indeed, the characters and the story were the strong points of "Cinderella Man." Much credit should go to Cliff Hollingsworth for a screenplay that included thoughtful dialogue, humor, and multi-dimensional characters. Daniel Orlandi also merits praise for the brilliant costumes that helped to recreate the period of the early 1930s. But the heart of this film experience is Russell Crowe's screen portrayal of Braddock. It was the colorful sportswriter and raconteur Damon Runyan who coined the nickname of "Cinderella Man" for Braddock.

However, the real James J. Braddock was more than lucky. It was his strength of character in and out of the ring that captivated America. One of the most moving scenes of the film was a heated argument between Braddock and his wife Mae where Braddock insists that even in the most difficult of times, he would refuse to be separated from his children. As a boxer, he was fearless. But he demonstrated even more courage in fighting for family valuesa lesson from which we can learn a great deal today in reflecting on this sensitive film. 118 of 148 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes View All Critic Reviews (209) Audience Reviews for Cinderella Man Cinderella Man is yet another terrific Ron Howard film. Based on the life of James Braddock. The cast that Howard directs is incredible. Russell Crow deliver a great performance as struggling boxer James Braddock. Ron Howard has an eye for real life stories, and he definitely knows how to deliver a strong, powerful real life story on camera. Howard has got a great cast here, and they deliver strong performances.

Renee Zellwegger delivers the second best performance of her career, and I think this film shows that she actually is able to act, and that she should pick more parts like this. This is a terrific film with a wonderful story. For me, it's hard to pick a favorite Ron Howard, almost all his films are great, with few that are awful. Cinderella Man is one of the best boxing movies since Raging Bull and is yet another solid work by director Ron Howard. The film has lots going for it, the film not only plays out as a terrific boxing drama, but the film evokes the troubles and the misery of the Great Depression very well. The story is engaging and the film is superbly directed. Cinderella Man is a well constructed, executed drama film and is one of Ron Howard's best films. If you enjoy boxing drama films, then you should check out Cinderella Man. A wonderful, well acted film that is a must see. Cinderella Man is one of the best boxing films that you can see. Alex roy Super Reviewer When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet. Saw it again! Perfect movie, no flaws whatsoever.

Undoubtedly one or the best sports and boxing movies of all time. To me Russel Crowe on his best performance ever as an actor. Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti did a fantastic job too. The story is like no other, deeply touching and emotional. It touches you in ways only a movie can. Indeed, the characters and the story were the strong points of "Cinderella Man." Much credit should go to Cliff Hollingsworth for a screenplay that included thoughtful dialogue, humor, and multi-dimensional characters. Daniel Orlandi also merits praise for the brilliant costumes that helped to recreate the period of the early 1930s. But the heart of this film experience is Russell Crowe's screen portrayal of Braddock. It was the colorful sportswriter and raconteur Damon Runyan who coined the nickname of "Cinderella Man" for Braddock. However, the real James J. Braddock was more than lucky. It was his strength of character in and out of the ring that captivated America.

One of the most moving scenes of the film was a heated argument between Braddock and his wife Mae where Braddock insists that even in the most difficult of times, he would refuse to be separated from his children. As a boxer, he was fearless. But he demonstrated even more courage in fighting for family values a lesson from which we can learn a great deal today in reflecting on this sensitive film. The story takes place in New York and New Jersey during the Great Depression, a time when people experienced the worst economic hardship in U.S. history. James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) was a light heavyweight boxer, who was forced to retired from the ring after breaking his hand in his last fight. His wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) had prayed for years that he would quit boxing, before becoming permanently injured. To support his family, Braddock works as a laborer at the docks, but he still has a dream to box. Several years after his last fight, Braddock's old manager wants him to be a last-minute substitute to fight against the second-ranked world contender. In this case, Braddock is one of those hungry fighters who astonishes everyone by winning the fight.

Braddock is back in the ring and begins to win all his fights against younger, stronger, and heavier boxers. In a sports article, Braddock is named the "Cinderella Man" for his miraculous comeback. Braddock gets a chance to fight the heavyweight champion, Max Baer (Craig Bierko), for the title. Max Baer had killed two men in the ring, and everybody believed Braddock would be number three. As the underdog, Braddock became the champion of the downtrodden masses. Manu Gino Super Reviewer At first sight, Ron Howard's 'Cinderella Man' may seem like a better movie than it actually is. Not until after the credits role do you realize that you completely fell for Howards' techniques of dressing up the script and putting on a show. What Cinderella Man lacks in originality is made up for in pure entertainment. Russell Crowe drags a certain amount of depth into the character to make him a reliable protagonist, although a little uninteresting. An evocative story with good performances and great entertainment value. A strong contender in the challenging competition of boxing films.

Kase Vollebregt Cinderella Man Movie - Cinderella Man Trailer On this day in 1933, Braddock fought Hans Birkie in a 10 round Loss James J. Braddock - The Movie Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko Directed by: Ron Howard Release Date: June 3rd, 2005 Official Movie Website: cinderellamanmovie.com In the middle of the Great Depression, when an America in the grips of a devastating economic downturn was nearly brought to its knees, there came along a most unlikely hero who had crowds cheering on their feet-as he proved just how hard a man would fight to win a second chance for his family and himself. That common-man hero was James J. Braddock-a.k.a. the "Cinderella Man"-who was to become one of the most surprising and inspirational sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace. Like so many others, Braddock had hit rock bottom.

His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that really mattered to him-his family-was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. In bout after bout, the talk was that poor Jim Braddock was criminally out-matched and perilously in over his head. Except that Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man who couldn't get a job became the mythic athlete who could not lose. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks, until this underdog who defied all the odds chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed two men in the ring.

With Cinderella Man, an Academy Award®-winning team-comprised of producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard, story by Cliff Hollingsworth, screenplay by Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman and actors Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger-comes together to tell the quintessentially American story of a man who was not so much a great boxer as a great man who boxed his way out of darkness and defeat and into the stuff of immortality. Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe stars as Jim Braddock, whose single-minded devotion to family and dignity became just as famous as his tricky feints and killer left hook. The story begins when Braddock-once full of promise-is forced into retirement from boxing after a run of bad luck, just as America itself is sliding into the most frightening hard economic times the nation has ever known. Facing imminent poverty, Jim wants only to do right by the woman who has always been his source of strength-his feisty wife Mae, played by Oscar® winner Renée Zellweger. At first, he takes a string of dead-end dock jobs that only seem to leave him poorer.

But soon, the tightly-wedded couple are drowning in debt and emotionally devastated to see their children shivering in an unheated apartment amid the dead of a Jersey winter. Then, as a result of the efforts of Jim's indefatigable manager, Joe Gould (played by Golden Globe nominee Paul Giamatti), Jim gets an out-of-the-blue, last-ditch shot to fight in Madison Square Garden-and more importantly, a chance to put some food on the table for those he loves. Despite being too old, too hungry and too injured to be considered a real contender-and in direct opposition to Mae's strident fears for her husband's life-Braddock nevertheless steps back into the ring without any training. Stunning the crowd and the media, he knocks out his rising-star opponent…thanks in part to a powerful hook developed during countless hours of dock work. But it doesn't stop there. His career re-ignited, he starts to dig his family, victory by victory, out of their hole.

And the more he wins, the more Jim Braddock unwittingly becomes a folk hero, until it is as if every time he stands up to an opponent, he is standing up for the millions just like him battling to take care of their families and keep alive their sidelined dreams. Then, finally, comes the match of Braddock's life, as he boldly agrees to face off against world heavyweight champ Max Baer, a cocky powerhouse of a fighter with a punch so lethal he has already killed two men in the ring. Some say that Braddock will never even survive the match. Indeed, the odds are ten to one in Baer's favor as Braddock steps into his corner. But Jim Braddock has a different view: that this time he knows in his heart the incredible stakes for which he is fighting. Says director Ron Howard: "The story of Jim Braddock continues to be so incredibly stirring because it is a tale that reminds us of just how remarkable human endurance and the power of love can be.

Cinderella Man is a true American story about what it's like to cope in the moment, facing life's daily hardships, and to continue to passionately strive toward a goal-even a simple one like putting food on the table-no matter what the outcome turns out to be. It's that kind of story, that kind of cinematic journey that has always intrigued me as a filmmaker." Cinderella Man is a Universal Pictures/Miramax Films/Imagine Entertainment presentation of A Brian Grazer Production in association with Parkway Productions of A Ron Howard Film. The film is directed by Ron Howard and is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Penny Marshall. The story is by Cliff Hollingsworth and the screenplay is by Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman.

Joining Crowe and Zellweger in bringing the story of Braddock's triumph to the screen are Paul Giamatti (Sideways, American Splendor) as Joe Gould, the sharp-tongued trainer who managed one of the greatest comebacks of all time; Craig Bierko (Broadway's The Music Man, The Long Kiss Goodnight) as Max Baer, the flamboyant heavyweight champion of the world; Bruce Mcgill (Collateral, Elizabethtown) as Jimmy Johnston, '30s boxing promoter who engineered bouts with the showmanship and control of a Roman emperor ruling over a gladiator challenge; and Paddy Considine (In America) as Mike Wilson, a fictional character whose story of personal downfall during the Depression serves as a counterpoint to Braddock's astonishing ascent. Stepping in to portray Braddock's opponents in the ring are several current boxing stars, including heavyweight fighter Art Binkowski (as Corn Griffin), light heavyweight Troy Amos-Ross (as John Henry Lewis) and heavyweight Mark Simmons (as Art Lasky).

Ron Howard's accomplished creative team who bring Depression Era America and the visceral thrills of the boxing ring to life include: cinematographer Salvatore Totino (Any Given Sunday, The Missing), production designer Wynn Thomas (A Beautiful Mind, Analyze That), Oscar®-winning editors and long-time Ron Howard associates Mike Hill and Dan Hanley (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind) and costume designer Daniel Orlandi (Meet the Parents, The Alamo). Music is by Thomas Newman (Road to Perdition, Finding Nemo). Boxing choreographer Nick Powell and boxing/stunt coordinator Steve Lucescu, under the guidance of legendary boxing trainer/consultant Angelo Dundee (noted for his work with Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, among others), coordinated the film's boxing sequences. credit cinderellamanmovie.com Cinderella Man Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 130 out of 205 people found the following review useful: Excellent and truly inspiring movie to believe in one's self from United States 11 May 2005 We went to this movie today at Albuquerque, New Mexico. My first impression upon looking at the title was "sounds kinda girly movie".

I have no idea who Jim Braddock is until I saw this movie. Its truly inspiring and amazing. All actors excelled in their action. Its gripping all the way till the end. I don't want to tell the story and spoil the spirit. It was never boring the entire movie. Russell Crowe once again lived up to the expectations and did a very good job. Renee Zellweger played the role of a very supportive wife. Its about never giving up, fulfilling for your promises, staying together what may come, to fight back etc., Watch it and you won't regret I promise. Was the above review useful to you? 87 out of 129 people found the following review useful: Excellent fiction treatment of historical boxer "Humbling Bull" from Texas, USA 17 May 2005 Just saw a preview of this film (opens June 3) and as shamelessly emotional as it is, I liked it very much. It provides a more visceral view of the Great Depression era than did another fine film, Seabiscuit. Call it Seabiscuit with even more heart! Ron Howard teams with Russell Crowe (James J.

Braddock) again and shows they can repeat with a winner. Like him as a person or not, Crowe puts forth another finely tuned, very convincing performance. Unlike in real life, he can be quite humble and sympathetic while beating the heck out of people. Really, his character is affecting, especially in his scenes with Braddock's children, and may be fairly reflective of the actual person of Braddock. (The fight game at that time, or any time, was not for saints but, whatever.) Renee Zellweger, who is not my favorite except for a brilliant portrayal in Cold Mountain, plays the wife effectively and mirrors the emotions for the females in the audience. (If my observations at the showing are typical, women fans will spend time alternately heading their eyes and virtually cheering out loud for Braddock/Crowe.) There are a number of good supporting actors but Paul Giamatti strikes again! He plays the manager who supports Braddock through thick and thin and his character recalls the era better than anyone in the film. I don't know what kind of research he did for this role but his Joe Gould is the archetypal boxing manager of the time or, at least, our cinema image of one.

Here's hoping he pulled some big bucks for a role for once. (You will certainly recognize Bruce McGill, as the seemingly hard-hearted fight promoter who could care less about Braddock but really doesn't want to see him get killed in the ring, from many movie and TV appearances where he is always reliable and who may be remembered from an early exposure as "D-Day" in Animal House.) Was the above review useful to you? 19 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Living and Surviving During the Great Depression from United States 2 March 2006 If the great depression of the 1930s is a mystery to you, then Cinderella Man can fix that. The story, about the ups and downs in the career of a boxer, is uplifting and entertaining. However, what makes this film more than that is its believable depiction of the great depression. The sets look similar to pictures I have seen in books I read about the depression, and the costumes are correct. But this is not just a "period piece." The behavior of everyone in the cast, and every extra, shows dedication to reproducing the gestures and attitudes I have observed in people I have personally known who lived through the depression.

Take, for example, the scene at the dock where Braddock, the boxer, waits with dozens of other men for the chance to work a stevedore job for the day. "We need ten," shouts the boss. Then he points, and counts. Every eye is trying to meet his, trying to be picked. Not a gesture is out of place. This kind of verisimilitude comes only from fanatics for accuracy. Look at drector Ron Howard and male lead Russell Crowe. Ron Howard also directed Cocoon, Willow, and -- for the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Picture -- A Beautiful Mind, which also starred Crowe. He drove the set designers, the costumers, the cast, and the extras, with telling effect. Nothing is over-acted. Crowe trained for the film using the same, low-tech methods used in boxing in the 1930s. He also studied film footage of Braddock to master the real fighter's characteristic gestures. In the ring, said one of Crowe's trainers, he successfully duplicated Braddock's moves, his footwork, and his style. The boxing drives the story along. It is bloody, fierce boxing.

Some people may find the fight scenes objectionably violent. Crowe broke his hand in training. Real fighters played most of his opponents. Sometimes they forgot they were supposed to fake punches, leading to the spilling of real blood, which was left in the final version. Crowe also landed a few real punches by mistake. The boxing, however, is overshadowed by life during the depression. Millions were out of work. Milk was delivered in bottles, by a milk man. People left their empty milk bottles out at night so the milk man could collect them early the next morning, and replace them with full bottles. When the dairy could no longer extend a family's credit, the empty bottles were still there in the morning with a note of apology stuck in the mouth of one of them. During the depression, there was no unemployment insurance, no Medicaid, and no Social Security. There was the dole, but it was new, humiliating, and under funded. You cold not get enough to keep your family fed and clothed. Braddock is shown waiting for and getting his dole, another moving scene in which everyone is stoically in character.

The film also accurately depicts the huge gap that opened between the masses of the poor, and the few, fabulously wealthy. This is a very entertaining film. However, if you are just beginning to study the great depression, it can be a a great head start. Was the above review useful to you? 17 out of 21 people found the following review useful: 'Seabiscuit' In Human Form from United States 14 January 2006 Wow, this was an involving story and the best boxing movie I think I've ever seen, and I've seen most of them. It's an old-fashioned underdog rags-to-riches sports story about a very likable hero, heavyweight boxer James J. Braddock, played fantastically by Russell Crowe. This is another "Seabiscuit," meaning a true-life tale of longshot going up against extraordinary odds. More than the boxing, however, this is a great family story of a devoted husband and father and a loving, supporting wife and mother. That's the crux of this biography, more than the boxing angle.

Nothing but the highest of morals and ethics are espoused by our hero here, who would starve himself rather see his children miss a meal, while teaching his kids honesty and unselfishness and doing whatever it took to take care of his family. Renee Zellweger also shines as Braddock's wife. After a string of some sleazy roles, it's nice to see Zellweger play this type of character. The two make an inspiring couple which is refreshing to see in this age of cynical film-making. This is another reason why I label this an old-fashioned story. The primary subject's strengths, not flaws, are emphasized. Is it exaggerated? Probably, but I have no complaints seeing a good guy look better instead of worse. One gets tired of the modern-day age of the "anti-hero." It's nice once again to see a good man propped up instead of shot down. The third major character in the film is "Joe Gould" (Paul Giamatti), Braddock's trainer and loyal friend. Unfortunately, he spits out the Lord's name in vain so many times I lost count, the only objectionable aspect of this film. But Gould was the kind of friend every guy would want.

Craig Bierko gets fourth billing as Max Baer, the reigning heavyweight champ whom Braddock has to beat to get the title. Now here is where I would not be surprised if his movie character was nothing like real life because Hollywood has to have a "bad guy" to counteract the "good guy" so here it is Baer, the last obstacle in the way of Braddock's quest to be heavyweight champion. Whatever the real Baer was like I don''t know but I know Bierko does a great job in this role. The boxing scenes, supervised by real-life Hall Of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee, are lifelike and well-done. Crowe did a wonderful job of imitating Braddock's ring style. The story isn't the only thing that is entertaining. Visually, this is a wonderful treat for your eyes. It's simply beautiful and director Ron Howard really excelled in capturing the 1930s Depression era with some beautifully muted colors. The sets are fantastic and the clothing, cars, buildings, etc put you smack in the middle of the 1930s. There are great production values in this film and the DVD does it all justice with a fabulous transfer on widescreen DVD.

Was the above review useful to you? 19 out of 27 people found the following review useful: I'm sorry, Rocky, it's time to give up the title 31 May 2005 *** This review may contain spoilers *** I was looking forward to Cindella Man for over a year, I was disappointed when it was postponed from last December, and I was thrilled to be able to make a special showing last Sunday. Generally, when I go in with high expectation (and this film was the one I was most looking forward to this year) I come out more than a little disappointed, although the films are often good, they rarely live up to my rampant anticipation. Cinderella Man, however, exceeded all my expectations. Russel Crowe, who, since Master and Commander has been my favorite actor, outdoes any of his performances to date. He has clearly lost weight, he seemingly effortlessly picked up an accent, and his attitude is flawlessly proud, browbeaten, and unendingly strong. When he first loses his license to box at the beginning of the film he conveys, without shoving anything in our face, his sense of disappointment that he cannot provide for his family.

He works furiously on the docks with a broken hand and still cannot keep his house heated. So at last, in one of the most moving moments of the film, he does what he would almost rather die than do, goes to his old friends and asks them for money. I do not want to give away too many details of the film. But I can say, it is the best in years and, although i doubt it will because of A Beautiful Mind, it should win more than a few Oscars. Was the above review useful to you? 15 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Simple crowd pleaser from United Kingdom 31 August 2005 Cinderella Man is the story of a Depression-era boxer and American hero Jim Braddock, but it contains enough love interest, family interest, and great-champion-of-the-people interest to satisfy most Saturday night out filmgoers. It's a total no-brainer, beautifully served up, and all the clichés delivered with such accurate emotional punch that you forgive it for being a tad unoriginal.

Gladiator and bar-brawl man Russell Crowe plays the lead role and Renée Zellweger puts in a good performance as the ideal and very loving wife that supports her husband through thick and thin. The story starts in 1928 when Braddock is doing quite well, but the depression hits and, with an injured hand, he is forced to work in the shipyard. He and his family live in fairly abject poverty until a lucky break enables him to make a comeback. This is the working man's hero who never says a bad word, teaches his kids never to steal for food even when they are starving, and nobly gives back his social security money the minute he can afford to. Zellwegger is similarly faultless of course, striking the right balance between supportiveness and concern that her man could get his brains knocked out permanently. The last fight generates quite a lot of genuine excitement due largely to neat editing and intense cinematography - you can almost feel your nose bleed just watching it. This is classic American-style hero creation and worship and, on the face of it, healthy enough. So why the doubts? Sure you can sit back and just enjoy it, it's the type of story the U.S.

has done well for a long time; but compare it with European cinema and it all seems very full of absolutes. The heroes don't have any failings. The choice is between total success and total failure, no half measures. Much as I admire the use of role models, I somehow wonder if more human heroes aren't sometimes called for, people who do quite well, who sincerely better themselves and others, but without becoming the most applauded individual on the continent. In watching the big picture we sometimes miss the detail that makes life real to everyone, not just the lucky few. Was the above review useful to you? 16 out of 24 people found the following review useful: Great Movie, a must see! from Los Angeles, CA, United States 24 May 2005 I just saw the movie tonight at a special advanced screening here in Newport Beach, and it is so good. I cannot tell you one single performance in the film that wasn't terrific. I can only think of a couple negatives. One being the man coughing behind me the WHOLE time. In terms of the movie, the section where the Braddocks suffer in the Depression went on pretty long, and the Braddock's kids were WAY too cute.

A little shamelessly so. As in, no three kids are that well-behaved,loving and adorable ALL THE TIME. Great points: There were a lot more funny moments than i had expected, but none were cheap laughs, all were just honest and nice little moments. The acting and directing are just incredible. Renee Zellweger, Russel Crowe, Paul Giamatti (who practically steals the show), even Craig Bierko as the boxing nemesis were so great! Oscars FOR EVERYONE! It's too bad this isn't Oscar season-- i really hope this doesn't get forgotten by the time nominations come out. Was the above review useful to you? 8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Braddock's Story, Not Baer's 21 August 2007 *** This review may contain spoilers *** Though Cinderella Man got great critical notices it did not do well at the box office which is a shame for those who missed a great sports story and Russell Crowe's performance as James J. Braddock.

Between the time Gene Tunney retired in 1928 and Joe Louis ascended to boxing's heavyweight championship, there were a succession of champions who were not among the greatest, but who in and of themselves had some interesting stories. In order they were, Max Schmeling, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera, Max Baer and finally the working class champion James J. Braddock. Most of these guys fought each other and Joe Louis in fact on his way up the ladder fought and licked all of them except most notoriously Schmeling. Jim Braddock was a promising light heavyweight in the late twenties who got a title shot against champion Tommy Loughran and lost. As is the usual pattern of things, Braddock went gradually downhill and at the same time injured his right hand. This was the Great Depression and Braddock took work on the docks as a longshoreman to support his wife and family. Ron Howard did a fine job in recreating the era of Braddock and got a great performance out of Russell Crowe as the man. What Crowe gives you as Braddock is the real deal.

Crowe nearly won an Oscar on the strength of a very touching scene with one of his children who he caught stealing a loaf of bread. Economics were bad, but Braddock's values stood the test. I suppose it was a matter of necessity, every heroic story has to have a villain and poor Max Baer's reputation suffers as a result of it. Craig Bierko is fine as Max Baer, but he did not give you the real Max at all. Baer was a savage puncher and in fact was responsible for the death of two men in the ring. Ron Howard shows him as a man with no regrets about that. In fact Baer was deeply affected by the deaths and held his punches on many occasions because of it. Baer was however a party animal who loved a good time above all. That was his undoing in his real career and in the film. Viewers will also like Paul Giamatti as Braddock's shrewd and loyal manager Joe Gould. Giamatti's performance might seem a caricature yet boxing manager were and are very much like Joe Gould, at least the best of them.

As a personal story and a sports story Cinderella Man rates as one of the best films so far in this new millenia of our's. I wouldn't miss it when it's broadcast. Too bad that so many folks did miss it on the big screen. Was the above review useful to you? 9 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Cinderella man:A ray of hope for people Author: abhinavmishraa 11 August 2006 Its about the depression era in US when a veteran boxer has to fight again to feed his family. He had seen good days but depression took everything.He fights again to win matches and its about survival this time not entertainment.He got to keep standing till the end (in the ring) to buy heating n food fr his children because he had promised them that he wont be sending them away...n even when he is famous n reporters crowd around him asking how he felt he was humble enough to reply 'i was doing it to buy milk'....its a real story n a touching one. Its names so because he was called Cinderella man as he was a ray of hope fr all the others struggling through the depressions to try n make ends meet...

Was the above review useful to you? 14 out of 22 people found the following review useful: "Cinderella Man" is captivating and completely believable! 25 May 2005 *** This review may contain spoilers *** "Cinderella Man"  WOW! "Cinderella Man" cast  WOW! "Cinderella Man" script  WOW! WOW, WOW, WOW  what a movie! The new film "Cinderella Man" is the true story of boxer James J. (Jim) Braddock. This film is stunning and exciting from beginning to end. In my opinion, it's the best movie so far in 2005, and it may well be the second boxing movie in two years to win the Academy's nod for Best Picture. How can I say this? Well, Russell Crowe as Braddock has never been better. Incredible! Director Ron Howard also gets terrific performances from Renée Zellweger as Braddock's wife, Mae, and from talented actor Paul Giamatti as Joe Gould.

What a lucky hit and maybe it was more than luck that reunited Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (all Oscar winners for 2001's "A Beautiful Mind") with Oscar winner Russell Crowe. What a team and what a story! The film recreates the pain of the dark days of 1930s Depression in a way that will stir you to the core. Braddock, a once-promising heavyweight boxer, struggles along with wife Mae to survive and hold their family together. Braddock's impressive run of wins has been surpassed by a string of losses that has rendered him a ring has-been, grubbing for any kind of work. Then an unlikely stroke of good fortune  a last minute cancellation  offers Braddock one more night in the ring against a second-ranked world contender. Unbelievable  except it really happened  Braddock, with no training for the fight, wins that match. Everywhere in the country, this new hero  who is one of their own  uplifts the downtrodden people living through this terrible time.

Those controlling the matches can't ignore Braddock's popularity and the potential for profit as the old man is brought back to fight young savages who will probably kill him. (Shades of "Million Dollar Baby"!) You'll be on the edge of your seat for the whole play-out. If you're a boxing fan, you probably know what happens  but I won't spoil it for you if you don't know. Either way, don't miss this dream movie a true-life fairy tale. I'm giving "Cinderella Man" an "A++" on my Entertainment Report Card. Was the above review useful to you? Page 2 of 54: Cinderella Man - CINEMABLEND Cinderella Man By Joshua Tyler 7 months ago Except for hockey, I'm not really into sports. Oddly enough though, I am into sports movies. Hollywood's fantasized version is light-years better than the real thing. Especially when it comes to boxing. Boxing is horrible sport. Two men standing in a ring bashing each other in the face, where's the sport in that? I can see that in the streets.

These days it's corrupt too, the sport itself is barely a step above the stuff the Rock was cooking before he started doing movies. Boxing movies though, we never get sick of them. The movie version of boxing is glorified beyond belief, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 8 / 10 stars Rating: Of course the boxing genre has been done to death on film. We don't really need another boxing movie. The only thing that really sets Cinderella Man apart from the dozens of other movies like it out there is abject poverty. The film works best as a snapshot of life in the Great Depression, a time when even the wealthiest guy might tomorrow wake up to find himself living in a cardboard box on the street. It's the story of Jim J. Braddock, a once promising boxer and title contender who after injury and a run of bad luck ends up in one of those cardboard boxes with his family. He can't win a fight to save his life, let alone to put bread on the table. Making their story all the more moving is the title card "Based on a true story".

As the story of an honorable man struggling to do the right thing by his wife and kids Cinderella Man is every bit as great a movie as the buzz would have you believe. But then there's that pesky boxing thing… As a boxing movie, Cinderella Man is just run of the mill. The film makes every obvious choice in the book. Max Baer is a sneering villain, designed to manipulate the audience into having a clear bad guy to root against. The fights play out as you'd expect, Braddock is down on his luck and then at the last possible moment he wins. To some extent this is the way it really happened, but the story has been given such a slick, Hollywood sheen you might slip and fall on your way out of the theater. You've seen this boxing story before. There's nothing new here. Combine a bland boxing story together with a great depression story and you've got a pretty solid movie. It helps that Russell Crowe is absolutely brilliant. The guy may be an asshole blowhard in real life, but on screen he's a fantastic actor. With Cinderella Man he finally gets paid for fightin round the world.

Swing away Russell, you can't get sued as long as you're wearing those gloves. Renee Zellweger continues to squint her way through life. Paul Giamatti is great, with the little bit of material he's given. I can't wait to see this guy back in a bigger role in Shyamalan's Lady in the Water. He's better as a balding lead than a balding sidekick. To the point, Cinderella Man is a very good movie, but not as good as some of the people trumpeting it as 2005's best would have you believe. There's a reason it didn't do better in theatrical release, and it has nothing to do with box office slumps or a poorly timed release. It's not that good. If it were really the caliber of movie the media is heralding it as, then it could have overcome any or all of those things. Other movies have. Cinderella Man is a good film, but not the kind of truly great film that's likely to lure audiences into going out of their way to see it. We're having a little problem with Universal.

They've decided that rather than send us the actual DVD to review, they'll send stripped down screener copies out for the press to take a look at, under the guise of combating piracy. Note to Universal: Don't accuse the press of being pirates. They might take it personally. You don't want a 1/5 review do you? Kidding aside, while I appreciate them making an extra effort to get us DVDs before the release date, it's almost better to get them alter and get the real deal. The problem with them doing this is they're cheating all of you out of a decent review. The copy I got comes with the label "not final product"… in other words what I watched for this review may not be what's on the DVD you purchase. Lovely isn't it? Even if it were, the screener version they sent me comes without any finished menus or box art. I can't review any of that. All I can do here is talk about the special features included with the disc, and hope that what I'm talking about ends up being what's actually on the DVD. I could do that, or I could just end this review right now and walk away.

Alright, I'll try to muddle through anyway with a brief overview of what's should be on the Cinderella Man DVD. First what you need to know is that there are two different versions of the DVD being released. There's standard edition, and the Gift Set edition. The difference between them isn't just their containers (at least I assume since I've not seen the containers). The standard edition is a single disc set, with a nice set of extra features on it. The Gift Set edition is a 2-disc set with a ridiculous number of extra features on it. I've watched both sets, or rather what should be on both sets for the purposes of this review. Don't bother with the Gift Set unless you really love this movie. The standard release is actually surprisingly serviceable as a run-of-the-mill, single disc release. It comes loaded with around 88 minutes of extra features! This is on the single disc version mind you. Plenty of great stuff on the standard release including commentary tracks, documentaries, interviews, footage of the real James J. Braddock. It's a well done release and it's half the price of the Gift Set.

If you do get the Gift Set, you'll get the standard release with a second disc packed with 141 minutes of even more extras. For me, someone who liked the movie but wasn't in awe of it, that was a bit much. I'll enjoy getting into that much detail on a movie like Lord of the Rings, but to me that's more than I wanted out of Cinderella Man. So look, I'm not going to say I've seen this DVD. If I'd actually seen either the Gift Set or the Standard Edition I'd absolutely recommend both of them, especially the Standard Edition. It's your best value. But since I can't guarantee that I've seen either, it's at this point that I'm just going to shrug my shoulders and walk off. Good luck! Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Cinderella Man Customer Reviews 4.7 out of 5 stars 870 196 people found this helpful 5.0 out of 5 starsRiveting Humanity ByRobert Morrison June 18, 2005 Friends had warned me that much of the first part of this film was slow and they had made the same observation of Angela's Ashes.

I disagree with them about both. In Cinderella Man (a phrase attributed to Damon Runyon), it is imperative that James Braddock's circumstances and those of his family are carefully, unhurriedly established to create an appropriate context for the process by which he resumed his career as a professional fighter in 1934 and then faced Max Baer on June 13th, 1935, in Long Island City, N.Y. Although a 10-1 underdog, Braddock won the heavyweight championship of the world. (The film takes us to this point.) He would lose his heavyweight title two years later in an 8 round KO to Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber." Braddock retired after a final win over Tommy Farr in 1938. Other reviewers have shared their own reasons for thinking so highly of this film. Here are mine. First, perhaps only in Raging Bull is the physicality of boxing so compellingly portrayed. Also, I admire the skills of those who recreated a period more than 70 years ago, one during which the Braddocks and millions of others struggled to overcome hunger and illness as well as poverty and especially terror and humiliation.

Under Ron Howard's direction, the quality of acting is outstanding, notably Paul Giamatti as Braddock's manager and trainer, Joe Gould. (I still think that Giamatti should have at least been nominated for an Academy Award in recognition of his performance as Miles Raymond in Sideways.) With regard to Renée Zellweger (as Braddock's wife Mae) and Craig Bierko (as Max Baer) as well as Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill, Ron Canada, David Huband, Linda Kash, and Nicholas Campbell, they had to work within quite specific limitations in their supporting roles. I thought they were all just fine. Finally, I wish to single out Russell Crowe for special praise. Whatever his public persona may be, he demonstrates exceptional self-discipline as well as nuanced talent in the lead role of the courageous heavyweight champion boxer. Braddock fought for "milk," to be sure, but in doing so became a symbol of hope for other victims of the Great Depression. Crowe brilliantly portrays Braddock's fundamental decency and integrity as well as his total devotion to the welfare of his wife and their three children. To me, this is Crowe's finest performance thus far.

23 people found this helpful 3.0 out of 5 starsLoved Movie - Hated distortion of Max Baer ByPatrick Daleyon December 28, 2006 I mostly agree with the positive reviews, but Howard took the easy way out and oversimplified the Hollywood "Good Guys vs. Bad Guys". Howard really looked into the life of Jim Braddock, talked to his family, and he and Crow captured him well. A courageous remarkable man, and his story was expertly and entertainingly told. So why trash Baer? He didn't relish killing an opponent as the movie would have you believe. I read ages ago the ring death shook him so much, it was part of the reason for his clowning ring antics. He'd get a guy in trouble, then back off and goof around because he was afraid he might kill someone again. Braddock is also courageously portrayed as fighting when injured often. Well, so did Baer (I've read)! Those depression era guys were tough, and needed the money. I think Howard was afraid to look into the real Baer.

Granted, it's a film about the great Braddock victory, but there was no need to trash Max Baer in the telling of this story. Format: DVD | Verified Purchase "Cinderella Man", Ron Howard's heart-felt film biography of boxing legend James J. Braddock, never received the recognition it deserved when first released, due, in large part, to Russell Crowe's bad press following a telephone-throwing incident. Overzealous critics tended to lump the incident and film together, and despite Crowe's public apology, many moviegoers skipped it. Now that the film is available on DVD, it's time to acknowledge the film for what it always HAS been; director Howard and star Crowe's FINEST film, together! Braddock's story is so amazing and inspirational, that it is astonishing that it's taken seventy years to tell it. Sylvester Stallone 'borrowed' from it, extensively, in creating "Rocky", and in viewing the film, the parallels between fact and fiction are obvious; Braddock had been an 'up and comer' in the twenties, but broken bones and ill-advised matches had cost him a championship shot.

Then the Depression struck, Braddock was wiped out, financially, and he struggled to support his wife and family through the most harrowing period in American history. Considered 'washed up' and too old for a comeback, all the boxer had going for him was his wife's love, his manager's faith, and his personal integrity, which refused to allow him to give up. He tenaciously climbed back up the ranks of younger title contenders, earning the adoration of a country trying to rebuild their own lives, as well, until, finally, he had his championship match, against ruthless 'killing machine' Max Baer. Their match would become the stuff of legends! To director Howard's credit, he never 'over-sentimentalizes' the story, or tries to turn it into a soft-focus 'fairy tale'. His vision of the Depression is the most accurate and heartbreaking since the documentaries of the '30s, and will come as a revelation to those whose only knowledge of the period is a paragraph in a history book.

Jim Braddock is not a 'Superman', but a hard-working, decent man with no higher vision than to provide his family a better life, and as magnificently portrayed by Crowe, he embodies qualities of honesty and dignity that many of us dream of, but seldom achieve. In any other year, he'd be a shoo-in for an Oscar for his performance, it's that good! Matching Crowe's portrayal are Renée Zellweger, as his loyal wife, Mae, who perfectly channels a '30s 'style', as well as a gutsiness that is timeless, and the wonderful Paul Giamatti, as manager Joe Gould, who would sell everything he owned, rather than see Braddock give up. Giamatti, a veteran character actor who finally saw his 'breakthrough' in last year's "Sideways", should finally get his long-deserved Oscar, for this role. "Cinderella Man" is a film that will continue to be cherished long after the filmmakers are gone, a tale rooted in an earlier era, but still timeless. Movies just don't get better than this! 0Comment | 99 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: DVD | Verified Purchase What excellent words I read by other reviewers here! I could not write a better one. But, I cannot live without adding my own two cents in agreement to those kind yet well-deserved words. The cast is excellent and on-point in this film. Renee Zellweger is great. This is one of my favorite Russell Crowe performances, matching his previous movie with director Ron Howard, "A Beautiful Mind", matching "L.A. Confidential", and matching "The Insider". In fact, this film is so well put together and high quality that all of the cast fits. Everything about this movie is beautiful and top-notch. This is Ron Howard's best movie yet, including regards to "A Beautiful Mind" which received the Best Picture Academy Award only a few years ago. Even if viewers in their natural variety of tastes do not consider "Cinderella Man" as the best picture of the year, it is certainly still among the top few. It has every quality a film should have, including a very useful story. If any American has not yet seen this film, then go out and find it immediately. This film will not disappoint anyone.

It is a complete boxing picture and much better than its previous year's Oscar winner. 0Comment | 12 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: DVD | Verified Purchase Before watching this film, I was not a big Russell Crowe fan. I thought he was arrogant without cause. I'm a convert now. This part gives him the full scope to develop the yin and the yang of his manliness. He displays both physical courage and sweeping tenderness. Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti offer just enough friction to give his part deep believability. I'd also like to single out the little girl who plays Rosy (I don't know her name), who is the most adorable girl-child I think I've seen in the movies since Shirley Temple. This movie never forgets what it is, a Cinderella story. It doesn't get seduced by the dark side. The good guys get to win (sorry, I guess I'm a spoiler but I'm still suffering from the pain of "Million Dollar Baby").

This is an inspirational story that will appeal to every generation from the "Greatest Generation," who lived through the depresssion lovingly represented here, to the Boomers who grew up on stories about it, to their children -- the x,y,z generations. A bonding movie. Really a very sweet film. The only bad thing: Max Baer was not the monster presented here. Yes, he killed a man in the ring, but it haunted him for the rest of his life. Every morality tale needs a bad guy; that's unfortunate. Maybe someday someone will make an interesting film that tells the story of Max Baer. But it won't be as much fun as "Cinderella Man." 0Comment | 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Amazon Video | Verified Purchase One of the best movies I have ever seen,underdog story ,like the Rocky series,only this one is based on the life of Jim Braddock,a real life boxer during the Great depression era.Russel Crowe was made for the part,and even resembles Jim Braddock.The fight scenes were accurate,as I was able to find the original footage on youtube.The man playing Max baer,also a dead ringer.Excellent movie.Worth the money.I did a little research,and discovered that the woman who plays Mike Wilsons wife,is actually Jim Braddock's granddaughter.I also discovered that Joe Gould died rather young of leukemia,at age 50.I have watched this movie over and over,and I never get bored of it,it feels like I'm back in time,like I'm actualy at the historic fight between Braddock and Baer.Jim Braddock is an inspiration to all men,and I would have loved to have met him,but he passed in 1974,peacefully in his sleep.My hat is off to James "Jay" Braddock,and everyone who worked on this magnificent movie.

Format: DVD | Verified Purchase Crowe is so convincing as the down, but never out boxer, that you almost believe your watching a documentary. This is a Hollywood rags to riches tale based on a true story, but there are some liberties taken with the truth here. All in all it's still a wonderful film. I have nothing against 'Rocky', but this film is in another class. Heartfelt, inspirational and an eternal classic! Paul Giamatti gives a fantastic(should have won an Oscar!)performance as Braddock's manager. This is one of Ron Howards best films, if not the best picture he has ever made. If I have one complaint with the film, it is that the audio is too extreme between the boxing scenes and the talking scenes. I found myself adjusting the volume constantly either because I could not hear what was being said in the talking scenes or having my ears explode when they went to the fight scenes!....too bad. One of the best pictures I have seen in many years! The DVD has a great transfer and should be in everyone's movie collection. 0Comment | 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: DVD | Verified Purchase I did not have the pleasure of watching this movie in the theaters. Now that I have bought it on DVD (I rented it first), I can honestly say that it is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE FILMS ! I think they made a huge mistake of advertising it as a boxing movie versus what it truly is - an amazing biography/period piece that BOTH women and men will enjoy. This is the first movie in a very long that which I have wanted to watch over and over again. It is that good! The story is simply awe-inspiring and the acting is superb. Not to mention the beautiful cinematography. I won't get into the details about the storyline since 169 reviewers have already covered that aspect. I just wanted to urge you to watch it! But don't forget to have a box of Kleenex nearby. Kudos to Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, and Ron Howard. 0Comment | 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Verified Purchase When I saw this movie in Seattle, the audience cheered during the movie and applauded at the end.

When was the last time you've heard that? I don't really like boxing but went to see Cinderella Man wondering if Ron Howard could work his directing magic to make it more than a boxing movie. He did. Boxing is part of the story, but it is really about commitment within a family and with a co-worker. Tough times were common during the depression but this is a metaphor for the tough times we all face during our lives. When life is hard, some people give up on their commitment and values. James Braddock (Russell Crowe) did not, nor did his wife Mae (Renee Zellweger). Paul Giamatti plays Joe Gould, Braddock's manager, and should win Supporting Actor. His performance is incredible. 0Comment | 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Format: Blu-ray | Verified Purchase I was fortunate enough to watch this movie in a theater with a family friend who actually lived through the depression era. I not only enjoyed a great movie, but received a history lesson from a person who lived the movie.

I can remember the most defining comment being, "this movie is all to real, it's a fond memory of some very sad times." "Remembering listening to this fight on the radio, and how it brought everyone together as a community." Then we watched the Blu-ray version which also has actual footage of the main event, it was simply spectacular. Sincerely one of my top ten movies of all time. 0Comment | 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Comment Saul Austerlitz on how Ron Howard distorts the life of heavyweight Max Baer in Cinderella Man. - Beliefnet Beliefnet Sign up for our free newsletters and special offers! Just enter your email below. Inspiration Delivering you the best in inspirational articles, life stories, quotes and more. Bible Reading Receive a Daily Measure of God's Word and guidance straight to your inbox. Angel Wisdom Let angels be your guide with help from this inspiring and thought-provoking newsletter. Entertainment Judaism The Real Max Baer Is Missing From 'Cinderella Man' Ron Howard's latest movie proves that Hollywood still has a real problem portraying American Jews as anything but stereotypes.

The well-meaning if inert new film "Cinderella Man" stamps director Ron Howard's penchant for glossy imagery and simplistic morality on the life of the famous Depression-era boxer James J. Braddock. Fighting the demons of poverty, Braddock (Russell Crowe) became a hero to many Americans by climbing out of obscurity to become the heavyweight champion of the world in 1935. Howard's latest "Seabiscuit"-esque tale of the underdog's triumph requires a heavy, though--a man in black boxing trunks to offset the hero's chivalrous valor. And who could better serve as a contrast to the Irish Catholic family man from New Jersey than a tough, mouthy Jewish kid with a million-dollar strut named Max Baer? As presented in the movie, Baer (played with winning flair by Craig Bierko) is part raconteur, part demon--a fizzy combination of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. With boxing far from the classiest sport in most Americans' minds, "Cinderella Man" clears the way for Braddock-Crowe's ascent to heroism via inoculation, taking all the boxing-related stereotypes and implanting them in Baer to save Braddock.

Thus, Baer is portrayed as a womanizer, never appearing anywhere without a showgirl on each arm; he is a brute, having (according to the film) killed two men in the ring; and, worst of all, he is unrepentant about the violence that is part and parcel of his profession. In one particularly ugly scene, Baer taunts Braddock's wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) in a pre-fight encounter, telling her, "You're far too pretty to be a widow" and offering to comfort her after her husband's impending death. To secure Braddock's place as a man of the people, one of the movie's emotional high points is a scene in which Mae, panic-stricken at the thought of her husband entering the ring with the man-eating Baer, goes to church to pray for Jim's safety. Her priest, noting the surprise in her eyes, points to the crowd gathered, kneeling and praying, and says, "They all think Jim's fightin' for them." I couldn't help but wonder, watching yet another instance of well-scrubbed Catholic piety onscreen, were they the only ones praying for their fighter that night?

Howard perhaps had to give Braddock a foil, so that his essential good-heartedness could shine through all the better, but it is a shame that he chose to do so at the expense of the real Max Baer, a legend in his own right, and to twist the facts of Baer's career to suit his narrative needs. Born in 1909 in Omaha, Nebraska, Baer went professional as a boxer in 1929. Just a year later, he left Frankie Campbell unconscious after a bout in San Francisco, and the fighter later died of his injuries. Charged with manslaughter, Baer was eventually cleared, but his California boxing license was suspended for one year, and the incident would haunt the rest of his career. The movie's portrayal of Baer's attitude toward this incident and others is grossly distorted. "Cinderella Man" has Baer casually bragging about the two men he had killed in the ring, but this is untrue on a number of levels; the second man the movie's Baer killed in fact went on to fight four more bouts before dying. The real Max Baer was wracked with guilt for what had happened to Campbell and provided financial support to his children to ease his conscience.

"Cinderella Man" plays it safe on the religious front, knowing better than to explicitly make Braddock's nemesis a loudmouth Jewish killer, but not wanting to offend the historical literalists. So Baer, in his fights, wears red shorts imprinted with a faint Jewish star, visible only in a blurry long shot of the boxer from Braddock's POV after a series of pummeling blows. Contrary to the film's avoidance of the topic, Baer, although only one-quarter Jewish, made no secret of his religious heritage (even if it was, as some claim, exaggerated for effect). His signature--always fighting with a very visible Star of David on his trunks-turned him into a Jewish sporting idol during a very dark era. Baer may have won his heavyweight title by beating Primo Carnera in 1934, but the only fight fans of the sweet science still remember is his demolition of the German fighter Max Schmeling in front of 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium in 1933.

Baer, the brash American Jew, took on Schmeling, the icon of Nazi athletic ambition, and much like African-American runner Jesse Owens would do three years later at the Berlin Olympics, hit the myth of Aryan racial superiority with his best shot. Baer's real life is also a reminder that American Jews have not always been lucky enough to live the comfortable middle-class lives that so many of them live today. There was a time, not quite fully receded into the mists of history, when Jews were marginal to the mainstream of American life, and no profession, boxing included, was too degraded in their struggle for acceptance. One can only imagine what a literary giant and chronicler of Jewish American history like Philip Roth could do with such material: the families huddled in front of their radios listening to the blow-by-blow description of the Baer-Schmeling bout, the Saturday-morning sermons praising Baer, the ways that Baer's pugilistic brilliance went a long way toward giving American Jews, many immigrants or the children of immigrants, a sense that they, too, could belong, could live the high life, and could succeed in the unlikeliest endeavors.

Knowing what Roth, or any first-rate writer, could have wrought with the stuff of Baer's biography, one wonders why is it that Hollywood seems to fail repeatedly at capturing any aspect of Jewish life that doesn't feature the Holocaust, or a particularly odious caricature of big-city, upper middle-class living? Why is it that Hollywood, always one of the most Jewish-dominated industries, has always been literally afraid of its own shadow? That this is historically true should come as no surprise. After all, Hollywood was founded by a claque of Eastern European Jewish immigrants who wanted nothing more than to fit in. They were the men who managed to make films that resolutely avoided their own kinsmen's experiences--they even managed to make a film (1940's "The Mortal Storm") about the plight of German Jews that never used the word "Jew." Like muscle memory, Hollywood remains incapable of what it once chose to avoid, finding the complexity and variety of Jewish experience in America too daunting to ever engage with in any meaningful way. Faced with a choice between the stolid Christian Braddock and the Jewish bad boy Baer, it is no surprise that Hollywood chose to lionize the former and demonize the latter.

"Cinderella Man"'s Baer takes shape in a two-step process: whitewashed of all personality, all background, his Star of David is then given back to him in the name of historical accuracy--but only briefly and blurrily. Hedging their bets, Howard and screenwriters Akiva Goldsman and Cliff Hollingsworth give us a false Baer, choosing to celebrate the life and struggle of one boxer, and the fans that lived and died alongside him, at the expense of another. On the night of the big fight, the congregants at Braddock's New Jersey church could not have been the only ones praying for their man. In that dark year, 1933, when the hulking menace of Nazism was just beginning to flex its muscles across the Atlantic, it must have given great comfort to many American Jews to know that their boy Max was a Jew and proud of it, and could whip any comer, Aryan or otherwise.

They thought that Max was fighting for them, and it is that fact, and the countless quotidian hopes of American Jews in that long-ago time when they still had yet to make their way up from the working classes, that "Cinderella Man" willfully obfuscates.

Question: Who starred in the title role of the boxing movie 'The Cinderella Man'?
Answer: RUSSELL CROWE