Cinderella Man

Say what you want about Russell Crowe, the person. Russell Crowe the actor is great. And he is great in Cinderella Man.

Cinderella Man tells the true story of James J. Braddock, a 1930's boxer who struggled through the Depression to put food on his family's plate, and light and heat in their home. When he gets an opportunity to fight a match with only one day's notice (and a guaranteed payment of some much needed money), he jumps at the opportunity to provide for his family. Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Private Parts) plays Joe Gould, Braddock's manager. Paul Giamatti is an actor who increases instantly the credibility of any movie in which he appears. Renee Zellweger plays Mae Braddock, Jim's wife. She's serviceable, although the character is a little whiney.

Ron Howard directs. With the exception of Apollo, I think this is his best work. Great direction. The fight scene's are great.

But don't think that this is another boxing movie. This is a great, true, character driven story. Braddock is a decent loving man and father. There is a wonderful moment when Mae is preparing dinner for the family before Braddock goes to a fight. They're almost out of milk, and they can't get more because their milk bill is past due. Mae just smiles honestly, kisses her husband, and mixes some water into the remaining milk. And when their daughter is still hungry after having her dinner (which consisted entirely of one piece of balogna), Braddock just tells her that he dreamed of having a huge steak dinner and he's still full, so he gives her his piece. Braddock would rather fight on an empty stomach than see his daughter hungry.

Throughout the whole movie, there is one constant: Jim Braddock is a decent man. The boxing matches take up so little of this 2-plus hour movie. This is a fantastic movie along the lines of Rocky.

I'm going to buy it. And you should at least rent it.