Too little, too late.
I heard Russel was arrested for trying to KO a hotel clerk yesterday.
Saw the film over the weekend with the wife. We both liked it.
My wife and I had a rare spare evening to catch a movie without the kids.
It was this or Star Wars..I wish we would have seen Cinderella man...star wars wasnt nearly as good as I heard.
brawling punk actor plays good guy- big reach
Hi diddle dee dee
an actor's life for me
I did have one reaction that surprised me. About half-way through the film (2 hr. 14 minutes), I had a kind of epiphany. I realized I was watching something that did not exist any longer. Yes, the setting is the 1930s, and yes, that was 75 years ago. But, it's not just the passage of years. Cultures have lives that far exceed the lives of those who live within them. The culture I was watching in the film is not the one in which I live today. Indeed, it's difficult to suppose they are even related in any way more than the mere succession of years.
For the first time that I can recall, I knew I was watching a culture that had passed away. I can't recall ever sensing this before. When Hollywood portrays a past era, it seems inevitably to squirt something anachronistic into it, usually in the form of modern values that would never have been around in that by-gone era, or if so, then not in the form in which they appear in the screenplay. This is why I hate Bible movies. No one can leave the background alone; it must always be updated, embellished from a modern point of view.
But Cinderella Man is different. It all hangs together. This or that scene, this or that plot device, this or that comment -- which would sound trite, or banal, or ridiculously pollyanna-ish in any modern setting -- they all fit together naturally in this film. I wasn't alive back then, but I know a lot of people who were, and what I've gleaned from them about that time validates what Ron Howard portrays in the film -- not just the characters, but the entire cultural matrix of the time.
And that is what I realized was utterly gone. Today is the brave new world.
You'll enjoy this film.
i thought the rules stated, hit with gloves only, not telephones...
I kind of like honesty in "reality based" movies. Max Baer was no killer (as depicted). Howard needed a "bad" guy to make the hero look more heroic. It was unnecessary and cheap, aside from the fact that it indicates a lack of skill on the writer's part.
Just watched what has to be the best movie I've seen in five years, and a movie that would already have to find a place in the top ten of all time. If you want to see a film that captures the essence of the American dream, with wonderful performances, especially from Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti, and a conclusion that makes you feel like you've just been at the greatest live sporting event of your life, you've got to see this. It's an homage to what used to be known as old-fashioned virtues without ever being heavy-handed or didactic. I challenge anyone to keep a lump out of their throat when Crowe as Braddock finds out his son stole a salami from the local butcher (the family is essentially starving) and then makes the boy take it back after telling him "we don't steal, never," or is forced to finally go on assistance, making it plain it's the lowest thing he's ever had to do (he takes the money back, later, in another great scene). This is just a great, great movie, as you could guess given some of the sneering reviews by some of the more liberal reviewers. Little Opie has made one helluva film about courage, honor, manly virtues, and his own belief in America. Hollywood will probably never forgive him for it, but everyone else should be grateful for this gift. This is one you don't want to miss.
I'll wait to see it on cable, like every other movie that my kids don't beg me take them to.
I haven't been to a movie in many years, but I might go see this one.
This past weekend, A&E had a one-hour program (MovieReal) about the film. It featured interviews with Howard, Crowe and Zellwiger, film clips from the movie and contemporary news film from the era.
I grew up in those times and remember listening to the fights on the radio. The A&E show brought back great memories and even though the program gave away just about the whole movie, it looks worth dropping a few bucks on.
Ping for the Pig Vomit fans. Apparently he's terrific in this.
I haven't seen it yet, but I want to. I cried just watching the trailer online.
Me too. Well done, critic Frederica.You did your job. Spouse dragged me to the local Cineplex. Old time boxing student of the game and devotee of old black and white boxing films. Sure, the movies take literary licence. Max Baer (The Livermore Larruper) was said to have been haunted by the death of Frankie Campbell. This was the battle of the "two young California Heavyweight Kings". It was said that his later clowning and apparent flippant behaviour, was to disguise his inner grief.
Actual films show Baer, playing the fool against Braddock. In fact he was a ladies man. Cannot see Max. as a sort of Hulk, myself. Just a lethal puncher. (Played opposite Myrna Loy in a Hollywood film). Well, yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.
Still, back to the film. I felt that watching it, made me a slightly better person. Well done anyway. Should be an Oscar or two here. Giametti, playing Joe Gould the manager, deserves plaudits.
It'll get the Oscar for Best Movie. I was sure they didn't make movies like this anymore.