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Overall Rating
  Awesome: 23.53%
Worth A Look: 56.62%
Just Average: 2.94%
Pretty Crappy: 15.44%
Sucks: 1.47%
13 reviews, 58 user ratings
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| Cinderella Man |
by Chris Wilson
"Finally a boxing movie that gets it: only suckers fight for glory."
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The plot has been done since the dawn of time. Down on his luck protagonist triumphs over adversity, inspiring those around him/her. I went into Cinderella Man expecting just another ho-hum retelling with boxing as the backdrop (Yo, Adrian!). Saying I was pleasantly surprised is like saying boxer James Braddock (or even Russell Crowe, who plays him in the film) would probably beat me in a fist fight.The film begins in the early 20s with Braddock in his prime, pleasing crowds and making money. Soon the story jumps to the 30s, with Braddock and wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) now fighting financially to keep their children fed and housed. Braddock works the docks by day and boxes at night. Despite his solid work ethic (such as finishing a match with a broken arm), Braddock’s boxing license is revoked when he can’t produce entertaining fights any longer. Even in this troubling time, Crowe’s Braddock holds steadfast to his values. In an aching scene, Braddock goes back to the boxing promoters he once fought for, dignifiedly begging for enough money to keep his children with him. When the chance for a comeback rolls his way, Braddock is willing to risk his livelihood and life for his family. The film spends most of its time building that premise up and it’s time well spent. And while it may sound melodramatic, it comes off about as sappy as a right hook to the jaw.
Now I don’t especially like movies about boxing. Regardless of the message, I find it difficult to relate with a character that takes physical beatings and fights others for riches and fame. I’m not saying Rocky was an evil dude, just that, to me, he didn’t seem to have his priorities straight. James Braddock, however, I could understand. I’ve never seen a film that so effectively captures the desperation of The Depression era. In a reversal of expectations, director Ron Howard really gives the film its grit while Russell Crowe’s performance maintains the hopeful spirit. Paul Giamatti, though nowhere near as memorable as Burgess Meredith’s Mickey, is fine in his role as Braddock’s manager.
The weakness of Cinderella Man is how it carelessly contrasts other characters with Braddock. One of the dock workers hints at being a communist sympathizer. This seems to be an attempt to make Braddock’s hard working ethic that much more appealing. The union supporter also drinks and yells at his wife, something Braddock would never do. But that seemed to be the characters only purpose: to make Braddock seem that much better, like a bridesmaid in an ugly dress.
Even less forgivable is the film’s depiction of heavyweight champ Max Baer. Baer is depicted as a rich playboy in his personal life and a stone cold killer in the ring. What’s only hinted at is how much of a clown Baer was in the ring. While he did cause at least one man’s death in the ring, according to his son he was traumatized by the event and lost four of his next six bouts. Just keep in mind that poverty is the real antagonist of the film.Despite a less than boxing badass title (even Million Dollar Baby is cooler sounding), Cinderella Man throws some solid punches, in the ring and on the emotions. While it can’t hope to dethrone Raging Bull as the best boxing movie of all time (and one of the best films of all time) I feel safe in calling Cinderella Man the most compelling boxing story I’ve ever heard.
link directly to this review at https://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=12400&reviewer=400
originally posted: 06/07/05 00:59:57
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USA
03-Jun-2005 (PG-13)
DVD: 06-Dec-2005
UK
N/A
Australia
29-Sep-2005
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