Posted on 06/03/2005 7:41:57 AM PDT by GPBurdell
1. Russell Crowe Triumphs in "Cinderella Man"
In "Cinderella Man" (opening Friday, June 3rd), Russell Crowe once again proves that old-fashioned masculinity does not have to be completely absent from the movies.
Directed by Ron Howard, "Cinderella Man" tells the uplifting, real-life story of Jim Braddock, the Depression-era boxer who rose from poverty and the soup lines to become heavyweight champion of the world.
The movie has excellent moral values, and Russell Crowe (Jim Braddock), Renee Zellweger (his wife Mae Braddock), and Paul Giamatti (his manager Joe Gould) all do a fine job portraying the 30s-era characters with conviction and authenticity.
The stand-out of the film, though, is Russell Crowe. The movie itself tells a simple tale of success, loss, and redemption - and Crowe elevates it with the complexity and depth of his acting. At a time when Hollywood seems determined to deride traditional masculinity, it's nice to see an actor like Crowe bring such strength, dignity, and self-confidence to the character of Jim Braddock.
Jim Braddock enjoys success as a boxer in the 1920s, but before he can advance to the top of his profession, a series of debilitating injuries and the stock market crash of 1929 (in which he loses all his money) cut Braddock¹s career short and send his life into a tailspin.
Unable to box, unable to find regular work in the terrible early years of the Depression, Braddock slides into penury. He loses his home and must move into a tiny basement flat with his wife and three children. He is barely able to feed them or keep the electricity on. The only work he can find consists of odd shifts on the docks - but the job requires him to use his broken right hand.
Unwilling to lose the work, Braddock disguises his cast and toughs it out. It still isn¹t enough to support his family, so Braddock must go on welfare and the soup lines in order to keep life and limb together.
After years of hardship, Braddock gets a second chance. His manager Joe Gould arranges a one-time fight for him in which Braddock is supposed to lose. Instead Braddock wins - even though he hasn't eaten all day, hasn't had time to train, and must fight in borrowed boxing gear. Braddock's victory here against tremendous odds is one of the most moving sequences of the film. Braddock literally wills himself to win the fight because if he doesn't, his family will go hungry.
Thus begins his climb back to the top, fueled by love of family, not by a need for fame. When a reporter asks Braddock why he fights, Braddock answers simply, "I fight for milk."
Braddock's commitment to his family is one of many important messages in this movie. Others include fidelity to his wife, perseverance in the face of tremendous odds, optimism, honesty, self-sacrifice and self-reliance.
When his family is hungry and his son steals a salami from the butcher, Braddock makes his son return it. When Braddock starts winning fights again, he returns to the welfare office and pays back all the money the government has given him. When the brutal Max Baer hits Braddock with illegal low blows during the climactic championship fight, Braddock fights back fairly and cleanly.
Braddock becomes a national hero - and a symbol for America's indomitable spirit of courage and optimism. Hollywood makes very few films with good values nowadays - which is why conservatives should support "Cinderella Man," and help ensure that more movies like it get made.
We need more and better leading men!
Where is the talent out there?
You are mistaken on Foxx.
Clive Owen has it going on.
Yeah, Denzel scared the crap outta me in TD.
Is it me or is it that most of the "leading men" these days seem exceptionally appealing to gay men?
This movie rocks and so does Russell Crowe. LOVE HIM! (see my profile hehe)
OK lawgirl, where's your glamour photo?
I saw the newsreels of Baer on the A&E program. He had an unorthodox style and was downright skinny by today's heavyweight standard. He clearly was a hard puncher. I just can't figure out where his power came from.
I hope so. He should have been nominated for SIDEWAYS.
If they manage to get even half the story right it should be a great movie.
It is not just you. We don't have leading men, for the most part, we have prancing pretty boys. Appeals to teenager girls and gay men.
Excellent post.
I cant imagine this film being worth while with either of those two actors.
Crowe is fantastic in this role. I saw the film last night and highly recommend it.
Unlike many so called ' actors ' these days - Crowe can act.
We went to see it last night. It was great! I found myself cheering and clapping, and at the end, the audience in the theatre was clapping. When it comes out on DVD, I'll be sure to snap up a copy.
Thats bull crap. His performance was not that good. He should have gotten an Oscar for "Whats eating Gilbert Grape?" or "Gangs of New York" but the performance in the "Aviator" wasn't all that. It has nothing to do with his boring looks. If he keeps picking good movies he will won some day.
It didn't do too well.
I absolutely hated that movie. Want to buy a used copy on DVD, viewed once?
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