Cast:
Russell Crowe --- James J. Braddock
Renee Zellwegger --- Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti --- Joe Gould
Craig Bierko --- Max Baer
Paddy Considine --- Mike Wilson
Cinderella Man follows the career of real life boxer James J. Braddock, struggling to support his family during the Great Depression. His wife Mae prefers he quit boxing but she knows how much the family needs the money. The audiences at James' fights are growing lesser and lesser with each fight, because every battle is the same. James and his opponents throw a few punches until the opponent is disqualified for making an incorrect move.
During the Great Depression, families were extremely poor and suffering from starvation. So it's understandable that the audience at James' fights don't want to pay their life savings to see a worthless fight. The situation grows worse when James' boxing agency begins losing money and decides to fire James.
Nearby James' home is a shipping factory that sympathizes with the poor New York men by employing them for a day. Sometimes James is chosen to work and sometimes he's shoved aside. Without his weekly paycheck, his family cannot afford to pay for their heating so it's cut off. In a desperate attempt to regain heating, James goes to the nearby relief office to get enough money. However he's a few dollars short so begs the rich employees at his boxing agency for donations.
When James' former manager Joe seems James in this poor state, he sympathizes with him. Joe manages to book a fight for James, giving him a chance to return to boxing. Thinking solely of his family, James agrees to the fight despite Mae's rejections. During this fight, James evolves into a new boxer. With every punch he throws, he sees visions of his family in happier times when they were able to afford luxuries such as food. Before, James took his poor life for granted thinking that he would always be a boxer and be able to support his family on his insufficient income. However, living in poverty has changed James and his mind is set on winning to benefit his family. The crowd reacts positively to the new James and they want to see more of him, so Joe books more fights for James. With every competition, James draws closer to the final championship in which he has to battle Max Baer.
Max Baer is the current heavyweight champion of the world. Previously, Max Baer has killed 2 men in the ring. The thought of James being #3 shatters Mae, and she forbids him to fight. But stubbornly, James agrees to the fight. The battle attracts immense media attention and James' neighborhood is rooting for him. The thought of getting a second chance during a time of sorrow and economic failure is a miracle. This is why James is nicknamed "Cinderella Man."
This movie has some very heartfelt and touching scenes. The acting was top notch, especially by the leads. Russell Crowe deserved an Oscar nomination for his role but many people suspect he didn't get it because of an assault attack on a maid. However, he was fabulous. He trained for months for his role and injured himself numerous times. Paul Giamatti was very convincing as a helpful, clever and excited trainer Joe Gould. Craig Bierko was terrifying as the arrogant Max Baer. Sadly, I was disappointed by Renee Zellwegger's portrayal of Mae because I felt she didn't really have a voice in the film. Renee is one of the main characters of the movie but she didn't own her presence in scenes with the other leads. Also, the classic and mellow music tied the emotions of every scene together, and beautifully crafted the plot. Since I'm Canadian, I'm proud to say this movie was shot entirely on location in Toronto, Ontario in the Distillery District. The director, producers and crew cleverly re-created New York, especially the Madison Square Garden Bowl which was demolished later demolished.
I personally dislike sports movies, but the intense and suspenseful fight scenes kept me hooked. The average rating for the movie is 4/5 stars, which I agree with. But what do you think? Watch the movie because I guarantee you'll like it.
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