‘Cinderella Man’ Delivers a Knock-Out Performance

by: Josh Marks

Director Ron Howard brings to the screen in “Cinderella Man” a forgotten hero of the boxing world whose inspiring story took place in one of the bleakest times in the history of this country. The story of Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock is well told by Howard and well acted by Russell Crowe. Braddock was nicknamed “Cinderella Man” by sports reporter Damon Runyon because of his fairy-tale like comeback from the depths of poverty to his defeat of heavyweight champion Max Baer.

The movie starts at Madison Square Garden where Braddock breaks his hand after a 15-round defeat by Tommy Loughran. Then the stock market crashes and the downward financial spiral begins for Braddock, his wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) and their three children. He is forced to work at the docks and go on public relief because his boxing career is over. However, his manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) eventually gets him a fight with Baer, who previously killed two men in the ring and was predicted to slaughter Braddock. His surprising win over Baer turned him into a working-class hero for the millions struggling during the Great Depression.

Howard is able to draw the audience in by showing how Braddock and his family attempt to maintain their dignity and stay together as the economy crumbles around them.
The grittiness of 1930’s New York and New Jersey is vividly recreated and the boxing scenes have a heightened sense of urgency since Braddock is literally fighting to feed his children and keep them warm.

The excellent camera work during the boxing scenes gives them an added verisimilitude as well. Crowe really got into his role and it shows during the fight scenes. He actually dislocated his shoulder and delayed filming for two months while training.

Cinderella Man is one of those rare true stories where the Hollywood ending actually did happen. However, what makes this film great is how well the story is told and how the real life characters are portrayed, especially their everyday struggles as they deal with the uncertainty of having enough milk or electricity. Director Ron Howard and the cast and crew do Braddock justice with their adaptation. They have been able to bring to the American public the life of one of the greatest legends in the history of professional sports.