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.
Well, since the last movie I saw in a theatre was also a Crowe picture (Master and Commander) I may just have to see this one, too!
Mainly, I'll look forward to seeing Paul Giamatti again. He was great in American Splendor.
Orange County (California) Register
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Related links:
Jimmy Braddock's record at BoxRec
"Cinderella Man" Takes Manhattan
'Cinderella Man' in fighting form at box office
Cinderella Man Vs. Social Security Privatization
The man's a great actor, no doubt, but you nailed it on the head. For women, and men, I'm sure, Crowe appeals on such a visceral level as a man, it's hard to ignore. sigh.
DiCaprio or Affleck in this role? Puhleeze.
Glad to see he's made another one. I'm tired of girly men like Orlando Bloom and Dicaprio. YUK.
ping
Apollo 13 is also a conservative movie.
As is the Alamo
Also he has just completed the Da Vinci Code
It always amazes me to see an earlier movie when Sean Connery played James Bond and compare him to what he looks like today. His looks have totally changed, but he still remains one of the world's sexiest men.
Crowe is HOT.
What does everyone have against DiCaprio? I thought he was great in The Aviator, and the Oscars unjustly robbed him to give the award to Jamie Foxx who did nothing but a caricature of Ray Charles, for obviously political reasons.
Next year's Academy Awards: THE FIRST TIME ALL FOUR ACTOR WINNERS ARE BLACK!
I can just see it.
DiCaprio takes too much crap for being blonde and for being good looking in a stereotypically European way.
I read this story and it's ridiculous. In the movie, Braddock does eventually seek governmental assistance, but only once, and when he has some money he pays it back. Does anyone pay back their welfare these days? I've never heard of it. Braddock(Crowe) also says in the movie, words to the effect of "America is the greatest country in the world...the government helped me when I was down and I'm grateful" - not exactly the entitlement mind set of most modern Americans. All Braddock asked for was a second chance. He got it, was grateful and made the most of it.
Buzz
Buzz Blog
He's a great actor, just not hunky like Russell Crowe ;)
I also liked the one in which Mr. & Mrs. Butt Face find their long lost son: Ben Affleck!
The difference between Crowe and DiCaprio.. Crowe can play a real hero, unlike the pseudo-hero DiCaprio played in "Gangs of New York."
Jamie Foxx who did nothing but a caricature of Ray Charles
Some would say that DiCaprio's portrayal of Howard Hughes had quite a bit of caricature in it as well.
Other than that role, I can't stand him..
sw
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They make Max look worse than Dolph Lundgrin as the russian robot in Rocky cxxxiv. It's a crime.
*Ping
bttt to read later
Thats too bad. I will still go see it, but I had a feeling they would paint Max out to be a monster.
Max Baer, who had killed one opponent in the ring and is believed to have contributed to the death of another, was expected to seriously injure Braddock. Baer clowned around in the first rounds because he was so confident.
I hate to end my boycott but this film seems worthy
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