Cinderella Man

Ron Howard brings his crowd-pleasing, populist sensibilities to Depression-era America and the life of boxer Jim Braddock. Everyone thinks that Braddock's a has-been -- a boxer who once had potential but now he's getting older, sufferring from injuries, and just isn't the fighter he used to be. On top of that, the Depression is in full swing, he's out of work, his family is struggling to provide a lousy meal and pay the gas bill during the cold, New Jersey winters. Then he gets his second chance which leads him to become heavyweight champ. It's an inspiring story, but certainly one we've all seen before (and probably better). That's not to say that this is a bad movie, in fact it's an enjoyable one and easily one of Howard's best. Russell Crowe turns in what may be his finest performance yet (if not, it certainly ranks up there with The Insider or Master and Commander), as Braddock who, as Roger Ebert correctly points out, is the kind of nice guy character that once might have been played by Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, or Spencer Tracy, and he does it so convincingly. Paul Giamatti is also memorable as the trainer (though not as memorable as say, Burgess Meredeth). There's a lot to admire about this film (Salvatore Totino's cinematography stands out in its semi-nostalgic visual approach to the era), but ultimately we've seen it all before and more intelligently. The boxing scenes, though well choreographed and staged, are clearly derrived from Scorsese's masterful scenes in Raging Bull. It's a fairly superficial "I've-gotta-believe-we've-got-some-say-over-our-lives" kind of theme, but if you like boxing, period movies, Russell Crowe, or just handsomely staged entertainment, then you should find plenty to like with this.