Jun 07, 2006 07:17 PM
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A true piece of entertainment worthy of the big screen experience!
Considering this story's ending was known, that the cinderella story has perhaps been one of the most overdone in cinema history and that I abhor boxing, the success of this movie on so many levels is a testament to the true talent of the people involved.
At a Sneak Preview on Sunday night, an age and gender mixed, totally packed house in my local theater actually CHEERED outloud during and after this film. (Not an ordinary occurance!!)
The Cinematography magnificently took those of us too young to remember the Depression as anything but stories from grandparents accompanying black and white still photos from old Life Magazines into a world of true human desperation that cuts to the gut.
Howard and Co just simply make very good movies and this one, with the ultimately superb portrayal of Jim Braddock by Russell Crowe (do they get ANY better than this actor? I sincerely doubt it. He is amazing here.) skyrockets into my top ten list of all time. Not an easy feat considering (have I mentioned??? ) my utter hatred for boxing.
It's appealing to women, to men and yes, even to young adults.(and not a light saber or a grandiose CGI moment in sight.) There is enough here for everyone to enjoy AND take home a message. A powerful message as well.
Beautifully told and presented.
Giamatti is inspired. ALL the supporting characters raised the bar on this one. And where they could have crossed the line into stereotype, they beautifully skirted the issue and turned to skill to make this a heart and mind grabber.
The story of Braddock, and this movie, above all else are a celebration of decency and grace in the face of demoralizing and spirit-squashing obstacles. It's a reminder of the important things in life, and the distances the human heart will go to protect what they love the most.
It's another chance for the theater going audience to support skill, talent and just grand storytelling on a very genuine and human level.
Cinderella Man is the best movie of 2005 thus far that I have seen. I saw an advanced screening of it on Wednesday with a capacity audience. There were several parts in the movie, especially in the first third of it that you could hear many, many people sobbing and by the end of the movie there was a noticeably loud applause by many patrons including my wife and me. I haven’t seen that in a theatre in a while.
This movie is a true story about James J. Braddock who made a decent living as a boxer until one match when he breaks his right arm and performs so poorly that his boxing license is revoked. This combined with the onset of the Great Depression leads Braddock and his family into poverty. He joins the long list of men begging for work at the docks every morning and eventually gets in. Since his right arm was broken and convalescing, he was forced to use his left arm developing a left hook that would help him begin his rags to riches story when he is given one more chance to box again.
The acting in the movie is Oscar caliber pretty much across the board. Russell Crowe gives an incredible and authentic performance as Braddock. The audience (myself included) pretty much rode the rollercoaster of emotions that Crowe evoked in portraying Braddock. When he’s upbeat, you’ll feel it … when he’s desperate and upset … there’s a good chance you’ll get choked up inside too. When Braddock returns to MSG with hat in hand and begs the boxing promoters (including the one that decommissioned him) for change, you’ll have a hard time not welling up.
Paul Giamatti gives an equally stellar performance as Braddock’s manager Joe Gould. If this movie’s performances were a horse race, Crowe and Giamatti would be a 1 and 1A entry. Giamatti is about as a sure thing for a best supporting actor nomination as there has ever been and deservedly so after being snubbed last year in Sideways. The chemistry between Crowe and Giamatti looks and feels like they have been best pals their entire life.
