Ron Howard's Cinderella Man is about as good a movie as you will ever see in the feel-good, underdog-triumphant genre. It's also a very good fight picture. And it's more than that as well.
Along with a richly layered performance by Russell Crowe - all the more impressive because he portrays a character who, as written, is too good to be true - there's an exquisite turn by Paul Giamatti as the sweet-talking manager. Giamatti is one of those actors who can speak volumes with the twitch of an eyebrow, and he increases his impressive range with each role. Renee Zellweger is also good as Mae, the long-suffering, tough-as-nails, devoted wife of heavyweight champ James J. Braddock, whose contender-to-rags-to-riches story is told here with an old-fashioned air of melodrama.
The movie's gritty depiction of city life during the Great Depression is what makes it more than just a good genre picture. Injury and bad luck reduced Jim Braddock, once a serious contender, to scrounging for pick-up work on the docks. Jim and Mae's struggle to put food on the table and keep the lights on occupies a big chunk of this long movie, but it never drags; the screenplay, by Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman, along with Howard's direction ensure a good pace. The scenes are full of little moments that draw the audience deeply in, like when Braddock appeals to Jimmy Johnston (Bruce McGill), the era's Don King, to reinstate his credentials so he can fight again even though he's hit bottom. A couple of words and looks convey all we need to know about the two men's relationship, and how the business and personal sides of the boxing game can never be entirely separated.
Much later, in a pre-fight restaurant scene where Max Baer (the excellent Craig Bierko) taunts Braddock and Braddock refrains from taking the bait, the bully is challenged from an unexpected corner, and Braddock's final line seals a moral victory more difficult and important than any triumph in the ring. Crowe is absolutely amazing in this scene. You have to go back perhaps to Jimmy Stewart to find a similar ability to portray the same person, simultaneously, as both fully human and ideally heroic.
Article comments
1 - Anna
NPR interviewed Ron Howard about the movie this morning, and their critic Kenneth Turan panned it. It seems his complaint is that it is too much Ron Howard.
2 - Jon Sobel
That's a weird complaint. Nearly all the reviews I've seen have been very positive, and I agree with them. I don't know what Turan meant by "lacks faith in the audience" - the audience I saw it with was totally caught up in every moment, both the fight sequences and the human interest parts.
3 - Quack Corleone
Nicely written review. From what you say, I get the impression this is more On The Waterfront than Raging Bull, which is kinda cool.
NB: Haven't seen the film, but the title gives me chuckles. It's kind of a sissy name for a boxing movie, ain't ya think?
4 - Jon Sobel
As I understand it, the writer Damon Runyan originally applied the term "Cinderella Man" to Braddock. Then Schaap used it as the title of his book. The characters actually joke about it in the movie the same way you did ("kinda girlie," says his wife).
5 - a anton
As a background actor in this particular show, you have no idea how much wonderful film was left on the floor. I believe it went from being a true story with much of the family issues left out to ensure they had time to get all the fights in. There never seemed to be real warmth between the two stars, the settings were not used to their fullest. The shame of the overhead 30 second crane shot on the Hoover City, is nothing less than shameful, the set was one of amazement and the original filming that was cut out should not have been missed. Oscar material, not in that edit. I don't believe Ron Howard wanted this cut, I think he saw the potential in the struggles the people were going through and he portrayed that with brilliance, yet it was all cut for the fights...
This was no "Pretty Baby" - just another boxing movie, yet they had everything to make a grand movie and win a few deserved oscars. I hope Ron Howard will make a director's cut and show us his real vision for this movie...
6 - don attles
it is sad that a good movie like cinderella man has to be pummelled with taking the LORD'S name in vain over and over again. up until the last 10 or 15 years hollywood did'nt need these distracting and dishonoring inclusions to make great and compelling movies. I won't see it again like the way I saw Passion of the Christ more than once and encouraged others to go as well.
7 - jeannie
What a wonderful movie I highly recommend this to everyone.! This movie showed so many sides of this man. A humble wondederful loving husband and father, not to mention a boxer that wouldn't quit!!!! I have become basically obsessed with this movie. I can't believe it didn't do well. But please this movie needs to be seen.
8 - MCH
Great movie, great story, and a great life.
A+ !!