I went to see Cinderella Man in the cinema when it came out. I left the cinema mortified after it. Why? Because during the final fight I jumped out of my seat and roared encouragement at the screen. In a packed cinema. It wasn't my finest moment but man it's great when a movie has that kind of effect on you.
James J. Braddock was a light leavyweight journeyman boxer forced to give up his profession after he broke his right hand. The loss of his moneymaker combined with the effects of the great depression sent his family into a tailspin of poverty and soon enough he was reduced to welfare and eventually begging when his paltry longshoreman wages couldn't cover the costs of daily life. One day out of the blue his manager called him up as a last minute replacement and in a shocker he won the fight. His broken right mitt had forced him to turn southpaw in practice and his new style very much suited him. This win sets him up for a shot at the heavyweight title but the fight was against Max Baer, a boxer who had killed two men in the ring. Would this be a comeback for the ages?
Huge spoilers in the clip below.
You cannot beat a boxing film and there's something really special about the underdog stories and this one is one for the ages. A true story where even if you know the ending it will still put you through the emotional ringer. Tears, laughter, absolute mortification, standing up in a cinema roaring like an eejit. It's all here and it's all down to a couple of pitch perfect performances from Renee Zellweger as Mae Braddock and a never better Russell Crowe as James J. When you care about the people onscreen it makes every thing so much better. It's why 1976's Rocky is still so popular. 2 films about people who feel genuine. No flash, no nothing, just a big ol' dose of heart.
Nice, simple, perfect. My favourite film of 2005.
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