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.
That's good bad. It's a very good movie. I guess it's just not "summer blockbuster" crap quality.
I did see Romper Stomper & while I was not impressed with that movie, Crowes performance was great. He has never disappointed. He is brilliant at his craft. He disappears into his roles and you completely believe him as whatever character he portrays from The Insider to Gladiator to Proof of Life to Master & Commander to Cinderella Man.
I just got back from Cinderella Man. It was the best movie I have seen in a long time. Truly inspirational.
I finally saw Seabiscuit today. I loved the Depression-era costumes and atmosphere.
Looks like this movie has the same--atmosphere and values. I guess I have another movie to check out.
> Ben Affleck can't act his way out of a wet paperbag. He is the most wooden actor in recent memory. <
No, that would be Keanu Reeves.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=matrix2
Cinderella Man was one of the best movies I have seen in a long, long time. Both Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger have the rare ability of losing themselves inside a role. When you see Tom Cruise, he is always Tom Cruise. But Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger BECOME the role they are playing. Their personalities are subsumed--which makes them truly great at their profession.
"DiCaprio takes too much crap for being blonde and for being good looking in a stereotypically European way."
Just as DiCaprio couldn't have played Cinderella Man (perhaps, but I don't know, don't underestimate him), I don't think Russell Crowe could have played Howard Hughes in The Aviator. Everyone has their niche. DiCaprio was excellent in The Aviator, and I am glad we have two good actors in two good films to choose to see. See them both.
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.
You'd make a lousy film critic. DiCaprio was excellent in The Aviator. DiCaprio's character Hughes had a ton of lines to say, fast and while acting. His character carried the whole movie, and by the end of it, you saw Hughes up there on the screen, not Leonardo. He did the descending into madness part of Hughes extremely well. When I first saw the casting I thought can young DiCaprio pull this role off? Well he did, and was brilliant as Hughes.
Space Cowboys, with Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Donald Southerland, and Tommy Lee Jones (who says there are no manly men left in Hollywood?) is also a great movie.
Ron Howard seems to be a very decent guy. He had a good upbringing (heck, how can you go wrong with Andy Griffith as your "Dad?") and he's got his head on straight.
By the way...Paul Giamatti is the son of Bart Giamatti the commissioner of baseball who banned Pete Rose for life...
I'm putting my bid in for Gerard Butler, 6'2" tall, with the most beautiful eyes I've seen in a long time (another Irishman). And a manly man. First ran across him on the history channel of all places, in the movie "Attila the Hun". Butler played Attila, and he was a very very manly Attila. He is also starring in Dear Frankie which has gotten very good reviews (thumbs up), and most recently in Phantom of the Opera (the movie), where he is the most handsome Phantom around. If I were the female starring character Christine, I would have dumped the boyfriend in two seconds for the Phantom.
Check this movie out. At first I didn't want to go (already saw the play, heard the music ad nauseum). My sister kept after me and finally convinced me to see it (she had already seen it before). It blew my mind. It's a wonderful Phantom of the Opera. They could do all sorts of things you couldn't do in a stage play, the special effects are spectacular and the sets are fantastic. And, there is that incredibly sexy Phantom (what a hunk) that makes one swoon. The Phantom (Gerard Butler) was better than even the popcorn.
Have you actually seen the movie "Ray" and if so, have you had your eyes and ears checked recently?
Jamie Foxx was amazing in that movie. He absolutely deserved the Oscar. I watched it on DVD with my mom a while back- she grew up with Ray Charles' music- loves it- and she said that Jamie Foxx was "Ray" in the film. She thought he gave an outstanding performance and deserved the Oscar too.
Knew that!
I don't actually remember much of the movie as it has been many years. But, I do remember that it left me with a bad feeling....kinda like Leaving Las Vegas. While I did think Romper Stomper & Leaving Las Vegas were a good films, I did not like watching them.
Romper Stomper seemed dated to me......similar to "A Clockwork Orange" which I also re-watched around that time & hated. Maybe it was the subject matter....it is hard to care about about a group of Neo-Nazis. American History X dealt with the same subject matter, but included redemption.
I loved The Aviator & DiCaprio captured Hughes in a compelling way. Watching the mental illness take hold was enthralling. He was excellent. Have you seen his portrayal of the poet Arthur Rimbaud in Total Eclipse? There are tons of gay elements, but the acting is fantastic.
He's okay... I own Timeline in DVHS and I also Tomb Raider on DVD.
Can't really put my finger on it... just didn't like it at all.
Haven't seen Cinderella Man yet. Probably won't... but will probably buy it when it comes out on DVD.
It was a story about neo nazi losers and it just didn't appeal to me at all.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.