Cinderella Man
Russell Crowe, Rene Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko
Director: Ron Howard
Distributor: Buena Vista International
12A
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CINDERELLA MAN
The film starts with Braddock (Crowe)
on the cusp of boxing greatness and comfortably set for the rest of
his life. However, with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, several injuries
- including severely broken hands and a shattered shoulder due to a
car accident - all of this is wiped away and Braddock, his wife Mae
(Zellwegger) and their three young children are forced into the hostile
lands brought on by poverty. Rather than buckle, however, they make
do.
Braddock is then (in Rocky style - Stallone
drew inspiration from the life of Braddock) given a one off chance to
pay off his debts by taking on a contender for the heavyweight crown
… and beats him against all the odds. From then on, history is
written, as The Cinderella Man (as the Pressof the day dubbed
Braddock) sees off three other contenders before having his chance of
claiming the crown from Max Baer (Bierko).
Heart warming, poignant and uplifting,
Cinderella Man is the zenith of Crowe's & Howard's
career. Forget Gladiator and Apollo Thirteen: neither
man will ever make a film to top this for atmosphere, credibility and
craftsmanship. The boxing scenes - Crowe was coached by Angelo Dundee,
trainer of a certain Mister Ali - are in a league that even outdoes
boxing classics of the standing of Raging Bull.
This is easily the best movie to
be released this year and is guaranteed to win award after award
at next year's Oscar ceremony. Quite simply, this is beautiful movie
from the creator's of A Beautiful Mind.
5/5
Vue
Cinema Birkenhead
Chris High would like
to recommend your nearest Vue Cinema
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.