An American Hero
Now more than ever Americans can identify with a nation-wide crisis. Cinderella Man takes place during an even darker time than this, the heart of the great depression. The story centers around a boxer named Jim Braddock. Braddock was a fine boxer, going undefeated throughout his career. Like the nation, Braddock’s luck seemed to run out. After several unfortunate matches where Braddock sustained a number of injuries including a broken hand, he became decommissioned and out of work.
With a wife and kids at his apartment home, Braddock is forced to work at the docks as a day laborer in order to try to stay afloat. In those hard times a day’s work was sometimes impossible to come by, and Braddock found it harder and harder to make ends meet.
Motivation Greater than Glory
With no food, no money to keep the lights on, and having to suffer the humility of getting public assistance; the future looks uncertain for Braddock… until he’s given a second chance: one last fight! What was to be a token match, a sure loss for Braddock, ends up stirring the nation. With a completely unexpected victory Jim Braddock instantly revives his career and becomes an icon for a hurting nation.
The story of this movie is nothing shy of spectacular. The American dream of greatness spawned from nothing is personified by Jim Braddock. If this were a complete work of fiction, it would be a good story. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it a great story! In the midst of horrible sequels, blockbuster clones and unoriginality, Cinderella Man is a motivating and refreshing cinematic experience. I really enjoyed this movie!
Ron Howard definitely does take some creative license in this film. The polarization of “good vs evil” is almost too much in the last part of the film, but somehow is executed just right. Setting up a feeling of injustice and hopelessness, Howard does such a good job of making you root for Braddock, and helping you to identify with him in a way that makes you cheer every time he lands a punch… and wince every time he takes one.
Russell Crowe does a phenomenal job as Jim Braddock. He shows a brute strength masked by his unwavering dedication to his family and a sense of humility and good character that make him all the more likable. Crowe really does a fantastic job in heroic roles, as an actor his sense of timing and his emotion channel very well into the roles he takes. From LA Confidential to Gladiator, Russell Crowe has become the actor that American audiences want to cheer for; and his role in Cinderella Man is no different.
Knock Out Presentation
Audibly and visually this film, like so many, benefits from being presented on the Blu-ray format. The camera work was amazing in this film, and the detail came to brilliant life in 1080p. You really appreciate the surround sound when Braddock is in the ring, you feel like you’re in the audience as the fight goes down.
Special Features include:
- Director and Writer Commentaries
- Extended and Deleted Scenes
- “Becoming Jim Braddock”
- “The Fight Card”
- “Pre-fight Preparations”
- “Lights, Camera, Action”
- “For the Record”
- “The Man, the Movie, the Legend”
- “Jim Braddock”
- “The Sound of the Bell”
- “The Human Face of the Depression”
- “Braddock vs Bear”
- “Ringside Seats”
The special features of this film were amazing. The film was amazing. This is a must own for anyone wanting a respectable Blu-ray collection!
