Genres

Visitors Review

KingMFreak 2013-05-20 20:26:29

Not quite up to par with other films (mild spoilers possible)

Boxing movies, it seems, are almost guaranteed to be great movies. Wehave Rocky, Raging Bull, and most recently Million Dollar Baby. I guessboxing is more interesting because it is more intense then, say, golf,or baseball. With boxing you can also provide well-developed charactersand an emotional and touching plot. Clint Eastwood saw this and madethe best boxing movie, Million Dollar Baby, which appeared out ofnowhere in December and went on to triumph over The Aviator and provethat Oscar voters still sometimes get it right. Cinderella Man is the true story of boxer Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe),who was at the top of his prime in 1928, but slowly became weaker andfinally was expelled from the boxing commission in 1933. He lives withhis wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) and three kids in a rundown apartment.They can't pay the electrical bills, and Jim's broken hand keeps himfrom getting any shifts at the docks.But he gets lucky when his manager, Joe (Paul Giamatti), signs him upat the last minute for a quick fight to lose to the second place heavyweight champion. What was intended to be Braddock's goodbye ends beinghis spectacular comeback. He takes out the champion and wins the $250purse. Things escalate and soon he is fighting Max Baer (Craig Bierko)for one of his final fights.The boxing movies mentioned in the first paragraph are all aboutboxing, yet the boxing isn't really featured that much. In Rocky, thereare two fights total; Raging Bull has plenty in the beginning, but theydisappear as the protagonist gets older; and Million Dollar Baby's lastthirty minutes prove that it is something quite different. YetCinderella Man contains plenty of well-shot, intense fights. During thefinal fight, I observed many watchers sitting on the edge of theirseats, involved in the intense fights.Ron Howard makes good use of the flash bulbs used then. Whenever fistsmeet face, and flash bulb is used exactly on the impact, which is moreeffective than Neo and Agent Smith fighting in lightning. The angleschange with every flash, and there are some interesting point of viewshots. The movie's biggest flaw is the failure to tell us why Jim is such ahero to the people. There is a scene where Mae goes to a church to prayfor Jim, and finds it filled with other people also praying for Jim.Yet why these people think that he is their hero, their inspiration, isa story I would've liked to see. They could've added five more minutesof why everyone admired him (besides the obvious).Russell Crowe is as good as ever, though there is nothing particularlyspecial. He works well with Renee Zellweger as the struggling familytrying to support their kids. Zellweger also executes her role withfull control and doesn't overact, which she could've easily done.Giamatti's performance isn't up to par with Sideways, but he's stillfunny as the pudgy manager with smart comebacks.It's not the best movie of the year, but it is an early contender forsome Oscar nominations, most notably for Giamatti and Zellweger. Themovie won't go so far as to win Best Picture, but it just might receivesome nominations. My recommendations go to boxing fans and fans of anyof the stars in the movie.

2013-05-20 12:30:31

an enjoyable movie

This is a good movie, I liked it, I was moved and might buy it for my son. The other reviews I have read here however are way over the top, and seem to almost resemble ad copy from paid shills, or else the great dearth of decent movies in our time. This is a good movie, but certainly not a great one. It is hard to imagine watching it more than once. (And I have enjoyed watching Walt Disney's Cinderella more than that, and Dumbo too.)This is not even remotely in the same league with Shindlers List, One Eyed Jacks, The Sting, most Buster Keaton movies, Rebecca, Sound of Music, The Easy Life, [Don't] Shoot the Piano Player, etc etc,... or even Yojimbo, the Seven Samurai, or Unforgiven, or hundreds of other outstanding movies. But it is good. It beats Rocky for instance, and that got an Oscar.Having grown up watching boxing with my father, on the Monday night Gillette cavalcade of sports, I also did not remember Max Baer as anything like the obscene thug in the film. A later review given here clears that up: he was nothing like that character. Out and out falsehood may not bother most people but it does me. I tend to feel I am being played for a sucker.

2013-05-18 21:32:22

I despise most family movies. They are phony & treacly

with stupid, obvious humor so the kids, (& slow adults) get it.But not this one. It's simply great. Adult enough yet it won't corrupt the kids. It's a long movie but doesn't seem long. As a director, Ron Howard rarely takes risks & he doesn't in Cinderella Man, but still scores. Both stars, Russell Crowe & Renne Zellwegger wanted to do this. It wasn't just another job. Crowe might be the best actor of our time & is simply very believable as the humble, honorable, boxer, James Braddock. Renne Zellwegger is hot as his wife Mae. But she is not here for that. They are a loyal couple, in love & have three young kids. They are good people & excellent parents. Paul Giamatti does anther great turn as Jim's agent, who never turns his back on his best friend. Crowe has several tender scenes with his little girl & little boy. These are done without schmaltz or self consciousness. That's acting. Howard gives us a good feel for the great depression that engulfed America. He captures the despair of the millions of people it ruined & beat down. The Braddock's were among these yet they had been prosperous in Jim's sucessful career. The depression came & Jim busted up his hand. He was just another, old broken down pug. He gets a second chance & rides it to the top. It's a love story about a committed couple, sticking out the bad times together. It's about their loyalty to each other & the loyalty of Joe, the agent & friend who never stopped believing. The only sour note was the treatment of Max Baer, the champ, Braddock beat. By all accounts, the portrayl as a sadistic brute who enjoyed hurting his opponents (two died in the ring with him) was not true. License was taken because the film needed a villan. This movie is recommended for all. Also recommended are the extra on the dvd. Deleted scenes were shown with commentary on why they were not used by Ron Howard. This was very good & highlighted the fact that this was a well edited film. Other lengthy extras & a brief comments by the principals was also appreciated.

Walter Frith 2013-05-18 05:55:21

Genteel and cheerful boxing movie.

As boxing movies go, this one certainly can't compare to 2004's'Million Dollar Baby' or the original 'Rocky'. However, Russell Croweis convincing in the role of Jim Braddock, a man struggling to reachthe top of his profession and while the underdog story has been done todeath, audiences still love it because they always see themselves intheir heroes' role. I liked the subject matter and the idea of the filma lot more than its execution, which admittedly, is flawed. Depressionera people struggling to make something out of their lives. Crowe'schildren in the film represent my father's family and his siblingsgrowing up. Something I've learned about in my life, and I'm glad thereare those with big hearts like director Ron Howard, still brave enoughto make these films in an era when no one seems to care about theimpoverished anymore.

Abhishek Jain 2013-05-14 22:36:20

The best ever...

You have to see this movie to believe that anything in life can beachieved. And this itself is the greatest achievement of this greatmovie. This is cinema at its best. The movie inspires you, motivatesyou and elates you. Russel Crowe, along with Edward Norton, is easilythe actor of the generation. Its hard to believe that he did not get anomination leave alone win the Oscar. But the real surprise was ReneZewelleger. O boy! was she great in the movie!! When you have a tear inyour eye, with a sweet smile on your face, you know you just had abeautiful moment. And this movie will do exactly that for you!! Go outand grab a ticket or DVD! Not to be missed

Ben Burgraff 2013-05-14 09:48:53

Crowe Superb in Extraordinary Film Bio...

"Cinderella Man", Ron Howard's heart-felt film biography of boxinglegend James J. Braddock, never received the recognition it deservedwhen first released, due, in large part, to Russell Crowe's bad pressfollowing a telephone-throwing incident. Overzealous critics tended tolump the incident and film together, and despite Crowe's publicapology, many moviegoers skipped it. Now that the film is available onDVD, it's time to acknowledge the film for what it always HAS been;director Howard and star Crowe's FINEST film, together! Braddock's story is so amazing and inspirational, that it isastonishing that it's taken nearly sixty years to tell it. SylvesterStallone 'borrowed' from it, extensively, in creating "Rocky", and inviewing the film, the parallels between fact and fiction are obvious;Braddock had been an 'up and comer' in the twenties, but broken bonesand ill-advised matches had cost him a championship. Then theDepression struck, Braddock was wiped out, financially, and hestruggled to support his wife and family through the most harrowingperiod in American history. Considered 'washed up' and too old for acomeback, all the boxer had going for him was his wife's love, hismanager's faith, and his personal integrity, which refused to allow himto give up. Slowly he climbed back up the ranks of younger contenders,earning the adoration of a country trying to rebuild their own lives,as well, until, finally, he had his championship match, againstruthless 'killing machine' Max Baer. Their match would become the stuffof legends! To director Howard's credit, he never 'over-sentimentalizes' the story,or tries to turn it into a soft-focus 'fairy tale'. His vision of theDepression is the most accurate and heartbreaking since thedocumentaries of the '30s, and will come as a revelation to those whoseonly knowledge of the period is a paragraph in a history book. JimBraddock is not a 'Superman', but a hard-working, decent man with nohigher vision than to provide his family a better life, and asmagnificently portrayed by Crowe, he embodies qualities of honesty anddignity that many of us dream of, but seldom achieve. In any otheryear, he'd be a shoo-in for an Oscar for his performance, it's thatgood! Matching Crowe's portrayal are Renée Zellweger, as his loyal wife, Mae,who perfectly channels a '30s 'style', as well as a gutsiness that istimeless, and the wonderful Paul Giamatti, as manager Joe Gould, whowould sell everything he owned, rather than see Braddock give up.Giamatti, a veteran character actor who finally saw his 'breakthrough'in last year's "Sideways", should finally get his long-deserved Oscar,for this role."Cinderella Man" is a film that will continue to be cherished longafter the filmmakers are gone, a tale rooted in an earlier era, butstill timeless.Movies just don't get better than this!

Frank Swietek 2013-05-13 22:53:29

A grossly manipulative tale of an underdog who comes out on top, but one so skillfully manufactured that it effortlessly--and pleasurably--carries you along.

devarioj 2013-05-13 14:01:36

Great Movie

I must say, I was anticipating this movie very much. This movie wasquite simply brilliant. It captivated me from the very start,emotionally as well as spiritually as it portrayed the perseverance ofthe human heart. This movie will leave you breathless and trust me, uwant to see it in the theater. Don't wait until the DVD comes out. If udo, u will be missing out. Russel Crowe puts on a performance that issecond to none in this fine piece of art that will undoubtedly acclaimsome sort of award in the future. It may seem that Crowe is on a realhot streak, as he further cements his Hollywood "a-list" status withyet another gripping yet harrowing tale of a man's passion.I don't want to give anything away about this movie, however I can saythat this movie is not predictable at all, well maybe a little if youdon't watch a lot of movies. But if you are a seasoned buff the thingsthat you have become accustomed to seeing in these sorts of films istotally twisted away.The only gripe I have about this film is that at the end they should'veshowed a photo of the real life man him self with a date of birth todeath. Other than that none at all.

James Alex Neve 2013-05-08 10:25:51

Solid biopic with great performances

The fact that this film is based on real-life events makes it all themore astonishing. I would still advise all people wanting to see thisto know as little as possible about the back story as possible. Ireally didn't know how this one was going to pan out. And when itfinished, it made it all the more invigorating.Russell Crowe plays James Braddock, a depression era boxer who loseseverything after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. After landing atemporary position as a dock yard worker, Braddock finds himself withlittle means to support his family. His old time manager - playedwonderfully by Paul Giamatti - decides to get him in the ring for onelast showdown, as the scheduled contender had to withdraw. Seeing thisas a way of making a potentially life saving $250, Braddock accepts thechallenge - much to the worry of his wife (Renee Zellwenger). The filmthen chronicles his subsequent re-rise through the boxing ranks, as hedefies all the odds and becomes labelled "The Cinderella Man".As a spectacle, the film is wonderful. The boxing scenes are in myopinion the best filmed since Raging Bull - and I do not say thatlightly. You really do feel like ribs are being crushed and craniumscracked. You will be gripping the edge of your seat. On an emotionallevel the film borderlines between warm sentiment and mawkish schmaltz,although it definitely evoked far more heartfelt smiles then it didrolled eyes.Russell Crowe is on top form. His best performance is still JeffreyWigand in The Insider (1999), but this one is definitely up there alongwith Gladiator (2000). Equally effective is Paul Giamatti, and I thinkboth men deserve Oscar recognition, especially after Giamatti wascompletely overlooked for his wonderful turn in Sideways (2004).A really good, really exciting, heartfelt piece of work.

gigi berbecali 2013-05-07 18:19:46

Great story, great music, great acting...

I liked this movie and I wanted to see it from the moment I saw thetrailer. First of all, it's a great story , a boxer (Russel Crowe,great acting)it's very close to the "world champion title" but after a15 round defeat it starts to go down...Soon he has to work in shifts tobe able to support his family, his wife Mae (Renee Zellweger, the bestactress in this role) and the 3 kids.When you'll see this movie you'llprobably not going to forget the following lines: " Go home to yourwife and kids,Jim! Go home with what?Go home with what? " Also thesoundtrack is great,it practically puts you in the 30's. Anyway Isincerely recommend you to see this great movie, it's a "must have" inevery movie collection.

Hopkinswin 2013-04-28 08:05:52

Bierko was awesome!

I had to check IMDb while watching CM to verify that it is indeed CraigBierko "channeling" Baer. In a movie filled with fantasticperformances, his portrayal of the great Max Baer really blew me away.I'm amazed that there hasn't been more buzz about the work he did inthis vastly underrated film.I also have to agree with a previous post; somebody should do a biopicabout Max Baer. In my opinion, the "Golden Era" of heavy weight boxingthat began with Jack Johnson in the early 1900's, went through JackDempsey, Braddock, Baer, Joe Lewis, etc. until Muhammed Ali in the1970's, should be made into a full length film. Seems that the sportjust doesn't have the cache today that it had during that era.

Bob Strauss 2013-04-27 19:46:24

Beautifully portrayed by Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger in the kinds of well-judged performances that presume goodness without straining to convince us of it, they're a couple whose shared moral compass guides them unerringly.

ryanfrls 2013-04-23 14:03:18

Ron Howard's Masterpiece

Unbelievably one of the best movies made!!! All actors in this moviedeserve a academy award! Russel Crow put a heroic boxer to life in theworld of cinema. This tells the tale of a boxer that make a come back in the 1930's,trying to keep his family out of poverty by going in the ring and goinghead-to-head with dreadfully strong boxers, using his heart to takethem down. His heart is filled with the ever powerful love for hisfamily. With this power he can face any boxer.Also a hero to all the middle class and poverty stricken people becausehe, a former great boxer and now poor man makes a tremendous comeback,giving the American citizens hope in life during the Great Depression.Like Jesus rose from the dead and went to Heaven, giving people hope,Jimmy rises from the poor and makes a comeback, putting ever lastinghope in America.Ron Howard has created a masterpiece that all people should see. Godbless him and this masterpiece!!!

Jeffrey Lyles 2013-04-23 03:34:46

Crowe delivers an Oscar-caliber performance in an emotionally powerful film.

danidupa 2013-04-19 00:33:41

One of the BEST Movies I've seen!!

Just saw this movie tonight!! When I saw the previews for this movie Iwas not to sure I wanted to see it, but I am so glad I did, it wasworth it. Can't wait for it to come out on video, it will be a niceaddition to the rest of my movies to enjoy at home, where I can bemyself and not worry about the other people getting upset at myoutburst. I am a boxing fan and I personally feel if a fight can makeme stand up and feel the blows and want to yell, cheer and ...hey..cussthen it's a good fight! This movie had me doing it all!!!! It had mestanding up and cheering, brought tears to my eyes, made me laugh andmade me think! As the movie ended everyone clapped! Very rarely have Ibeen to a movie that moved everyone to do that at the same time!! Ithad everything I like in a movie! A MUST see!!

bumberbee 2013-04-18 06:52:35

one of the best boxing shows of all time

Another stellar performance by Russell Crowe and Renne Zellweger reallyshines in her ever supportive wife role. Honestly i went into thecinema with no expectations whatsoever but the build up to the fightswere simple brilliant, classic Ron Howard stuff. Cinematography wasvery good for the fight scenes but i particularly liked the characterbuild up for all the main casts; i found the manager's role played byPaul Giamatti, who was superb in sideways just a year ago, characterbuild up was very progressive. He shed his ol pinot noir self to a verydedicated manager, not in it for the money only, but a lot more thanthat, kinda non don king type. Well, the film sheds new light on thefight industry during the 1929 depression and Jim Braddock proves toall that there's some light left at the end of the tunnel for all ofus...if we believed in themi'm a sucker for true stories and Cinderella man scores a perfect 10go watch it if it's the last show you'll watch this year, brilliantstuff, kudos to all who made it possible!

2013-04-17 07:59:04

A+ for true story come to the big screen

Cinderella Man is a terrific movie. I happen to love sports movies, especially movies like Rocky, Remember the Titans, Rudy, etc. Cinderella Man is a terrific sports movie, but it is more than that. Rudy was just playing football because it was his dream. Remember the Titans was good for racial unity and Rocky was good solid fiction. But James J. Braddock was fighting for his family - to pay for the bills and to put milk and food on the table. The movie paints a vivid description of the Depression and all its effects. It made me much more grateful for the many things I take for granted nowadays. Overall, I thought it was one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Steven D. Greydanus 2013-04-16 18:26:14

A rousing picture and a genuinely inspiring one… one Cinderella story that goes the distance without turning into a pumpkin, and fully earns its happily ever after.

MoviePopcornCostsTooMuch 2013-04-15 21:13:18

Another lifeless Howard film. A really expensive episode of 'BIOGRAPHY'.

Everyone that I know who has seen Cinderella Man shares the sameopinion as mine - an okay movie, but not really worth recommending orwasting money on to see. It's pretty lifeless and limps along at asnails pace. There is zero emotional impact delivered. What could RonHoward possibly know about poverty? I find it like all his movies -slow, deliberate and passionless; sure, I shed a tear when RussellCrowe's mad professor gets the Nobel prize but that's about it. Theproduction designer and art director are the only champions in thismovie and should get nominated for their beautiful work.I've read many of the comments and am pretty confident that the slew of'10s' you see as votes for this movie are the result of some massiveemail forward that got everyone involved with the movie to vote. Evenpeople that do like it would never give it a 10. But 35% of IMDb votersgive it a ten? Give me a break.Save your money. Ron Howard grew up with a craft table next to him,what does he know about hunger? It's like he just picks up a script andsays to himself 'ooh, this would be good with a crane shot, and thiswould be great at 60 frames a second, and when they kiss, we'll playsome violins' He's like a movie professor that knows all of theingredients to a good film but can't mix them together properly.There's no synergy. He will always make films because Hollywood likeshim. Mr. Aw Shucks Howard wants to make a movie? Sure, is 100 millionenough? Why Roger Ebert touts this movie so much is beyond me. The onlyreason I can figure is because it's the kind of movie they wantHollywood to make more of - big old fashioned sets - larger than lifestory - James Horner does the score. It's got all the elements of agreat movie but it ISN'T!! I truly believe that if somebody else haddirected this it would have been a great movie. It's an unbelievablebut true story. But it was really just a way for Howard to waste 120million of Universal's money.Let's hope he doesn't screw up The DaVinci code.

Rob Vaux 2013-04-15 13:02:36

Comforting and familiar -- and certainly, 2005 has been weak enough to welcome such qualities -- but the best picture of the year? Come on, folks, get a grip.