Cinderella Man (2005)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Cliff Hollingsworth (story)
Cliff Hollingsworth (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved.

Plot:

The story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed up boxer who came back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s.

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Great Depression | 1930s | Boxer | Dock

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Jim Braddock
Renée Zellweger	...	Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti	...	Joe Gould
Craig Bierko	...	Max Baer
Paddy Considine	...	Mike Wilson
Bruce McGill	...	Jimmy Johnston
David Huband	...	Ford Bond
Connor Price	...	Jay Braddock
Ariel Waller	...	Rosemarie Braddock
Patrick Louis	...	Howard Braddock
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Sara Wilson
Linda Kash	...	Lucille Gould
Nicholas Campbell	...	Sporty Lewis
Gene Pyrz	...	Jake
Chuck Shamata	...	Father Rorick

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language.

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41365) | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Belgium:KT | Venezuela:PG-13 | Malaysia:18SG (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Hungary:14 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:All | Ireland:15 | South Africa:10V | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Germany:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Distillery District, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

This Depression-era drama made headlines for being not only one of the best reviewed films of 2005, but one of the least well attended. After four weeks of release the film had taken around US$50 million, which even during the box-office slump of the time was a disappointment, especially considering the good buzz. AMC Theatres hoped to keep the film and started a unique offer of a money-back guarantee. Ticket buyers who did not like the film were promised that their money would be refunded, no questions asked.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Opening scene is set in late November on East Coast, but despite undoubtedly chilly temperatures, characters sit outside on patio at night without coats; trees and grass are still green.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Gould: Attaboy! Keep him busy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dancing with the Stars: Series 7 Grand Final (#7.10)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

a Truly Moving Picture

I saw this film on May 17th in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival that screens films for their Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "...explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

The impact of this film on the viewer is as powerful as Rocky and Million Dollar Baby. While all three films have boxing and love of the underdog as a common theme, this movie is much more. The backdrop of the movie is Depression-era America around NYC. And you are taken back to this depressing and hopeless time of willing, hard-working, idle, discouraged, poor people.

The threesome of Russell Crowe, as the fighter Braddock, and Renee Zellweger, as his wife, and Paul Giamatti, as his manager were Academy-Award worthy. They professionally played their parts and let the story be the real star.

Braddock is a down-on-his-luck aging and hurt boxer who can no longer box and can no longer find enough work to support his wife and three kids. By a twist of fate, he is given another chance to fight, and his career begins again.

Braddock and his wife display low-key dignity and honor that we wish we all had. They are good spouses, parents, neighbors and citizens without "showing off." While this is a serious drama, it has a lot of light humor throughout the picture that is entertaining and appropriate. Director Ron Howard does a wonderful storytelling job and has kept directorial tricks to a minimum. The fight scenes were the most real I have seen in any movie.

This is film-making at its best.

FYI - There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past winners going back 70 years.