"Makin' movies, makin' songs...and fightin' 'round the world...."
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.
He was on Jay Leno last week, and if I heard him correctly, he said two other people considered for his role were Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio. I can't imagine two more horrible choices to play a manly-man than those two.
Ben Affleck can't act his way out of a wet paperbag. He is the most wooden actor in recent memory. When a scene calls for fear,anger,sadness it's all portrayed as one in the same on the screen.
He just squints a differently depending on what feeling is needed.
I think Russell Crowe is one of the best actors out there today. I can't wait to check out this movie.
AL GORE IN
A TREE STORY
LOL. Perfect!
If this review is accurate, it sounds like a great movie. I can't imagine that they could have even considered Leonard di Caprio for the role.
Bravo for this worthy movie which should be supported by all who disparage the usual dismal fare from Hollywood. It's telling that when Hollywood makes a movie about a man of such sterling character it must go to the 1930s. Surely there must be someone in the last 25 years besides astronauts that we could admire.
Not Ellen DeGeneres? How strange.
"Makin' movies, makin' songs...and fightin' 'round the world...."
Thanks for posting this, GPB. :)
Wow, I've got to see this. Hard to believe this came out of Hollywood. Their usual perspective is opposite... getting someone else's money through the guv'ment would be seen as righteous and the butcher would be an evil capitalist keeping the meat from the po' folk. -jw
I watched a one hour program on A&E last night (MovieReal), about the movie and Braddock. It had many film clips from the movie as well as lots of news clips of Braddock and his fights. Very enjoyable program.
From the film clips, it looks like Cinderella Man is worth seeing, but last night's program satisfied me.
ROFL! That is a truly great episode! :D
And this sounds like a great movie. :)
GPBurdell? George Burdell? You must be a Tech grad!
See my #15.
I just checked and A&E will be airing the program again tomorrow afternoon (June 4) at 4:00 PM Eastern.
Exactly...I do not want to see him with his shirt off. He is sponge-like. I did watch The Aviator last night & he did a fantastic job.
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.