Cinderella Man

The first thing that came to my mind at the conclusion of the movie was, thank god I wasn’t alive back in the 30’s.

I’m surprised that this movie isn’t doing well in the box office, as it is a great story performed extraordinarily well by very capable actors. Russell Crowe, while perhaps an asshole in person, is truly adept at portraying physically tough and yet emotionally gentle men. I feel like someone should send a copy of this movie (and Gladiator) to Orlando Bloom (Kingdom of Heaven) as an example of how a real action/sports hero actor should look and behave on screen.

Cinderella Man tells the story of James J. Braddock’s (Russell Crowe) rise, fall, and eventual comeback in heavyweight boxing during the Great Depression. The story is based on historical reality, and I got the impression that any liberties taken with the facts occurred mostly in Braddock’s interactions with his family and friends. I mean the guy is nice, like super awesome goody-two-shoes perfect nice. He never appears to be all that stressed even as the depression strangles his family with financial ruin. The heat gets turned off in the family’s tiny little shack, the kids fall sick, he can’t get a job, there’s not enough food for the family, little puppies and kittens are dying, and yet, through all of it, Jim Braddock remains unwavering in his calm demeanor. Then again, he was known for being a boxer who could take his licks in the ring and yet keep fighting with tenacious perseverance, so perhaps he lived his life the same way. Braddock was a really easy character to root for, and I found myself continually impressed with Crowe’s ability to portray a genuineness in Braddock’s personality. This ability was especially moving during a scene in which Braddock asks his former boxing managers and promoters for help that he desperately needs.

The boxing scenes were terrific, and they didn’t have that dragged-out feeling that one sometimes feels during particularly long sports and/or battle scenes. I was completely engaged in every single fight scene despite knowing the outcome (I couldn’t help but read up on Braddock prior to seeing the movie). The supporting characters were fantastic as well, particularly Paul Giamatti as Braddock’s manager, Joe Gould (aka Gus-Gus). Max Baer (Craig Bierko) received the traditional vilification treatment, which I thought was a tad unnecessary, as the audience is already rooting for Braddock without need of further nudging. But still, Baer’s flagrant behavior did add to the excitement and drama of the final fight. At one point during the final rounds, Braddock gets knocked down by a particularly vicious punch and looks up at Baer with a fiery determination in his eyes, signaling to the audience that Braddock is about to stand up and unleash a hailstorm of blows. Let that be a lesson to you, Max Baer: don’t be the villain in a feel-good story!

This movie was great to watch, as it is an engaging story filled with a cast and crew that can do it justice. Ron Howard did a magnificent job directing the film, and I was glad that the 2 1/2 hours passed so easily. The fact that this is a true story, set against the backdrop of The Great Depression makes the movie that much more captivating. Definitely see this movie if you have a chance!

Oh, and for those of us not quite as adept with vocabulary: pugilism = boxing. Yes, I looked it up afterward.