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Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine ... see more see more... , Bruce McGill , Ron Canada , David Huband , Connor Price , Ariel Waller , Patrick Louis , Rosemarie DeWitt , Linda Kash , Nicholas Campbell , Gene Pyrz , Alicia Johnston , Troy Amos-Ross , Mark Simmons , Art Binkowski , David Litziinger , Rance Howard , Angelo Dundee , Angelo Tsarouchas , Boyd Banks , Fulvio Cecere

The true story of an athlete who achieved his greatest success against the most daunting odds of his life is brought to the screen in this historical drama. In the 1920s, James Braddock (Russell Crowe... read more read more...) from Bergen, NJ, was a promising contender in professional boxing; he had strength, spirit, and tenacity, but the combination of a serious hand injury and a 1929 defeat in a bout with light heavyweight champ Tommy Loughran sent his career into a serious tailspin. As Braddock's career in the ring dried up, the Great Depression put a stake through the heart of America's economy, and Braddock found himself working at the New York docks for pitiful wages as he tried to support his wife, Mae (Renée Zellweger), and three children. Desperate for money, Braddock turned to his former trainer and manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), who was unexpectedly able to scare up a bout for him, battling John Griffin at Madison Square Garden. While conventional wisdom had it that Braddock was too old, out of shape, and out of practice to have any chance of winning, he defeated Griffin, and continued beating his opponents with a powerful left hook that had been intensified by years of punishing dock work. In a nation desperate for good news, Braddock's surprising comeback became a tonic to struggling workers and unemployed people, and all eyes were on Braddock when in 1935 he took on powerful heavyweight champion Max Baer (Craig Bierko) in what was both literally and figuratively the fight of his life. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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88% liked it

257,906 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

207 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 24 min.

Directed by: Ron Howard

Release Date: May 29, 2005

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DVD Release Date: December 6, 2005

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Stats: 11,990 reviews

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Cinderella Man Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man Russell Crowe and Renee Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Bierko as Max Baer Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Cinderella Man Craig Bierko and Paul Giamatti Bierko as Max Baer Cinderella Man
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Flixster Reviews (11,990)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 18, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Cinderella Man is yet another terrific Ron Howard film. Based on the life of James Braddock. The cast that Howard directs is incredible. Russell Crow deliver a great performance as struggling boxer James Braddock. Ron Howard has an eye for real life stories, and he definitely kno... read morews how to deliver a strong, powerful real life story on camera. Howard has got a great cast here, and they deliver strong performances. Renee Zellwegger delivers the second best performance of her career, and I think this film shows that she actually is able to act, and that she should pick more parts like this. This is a terrific film with a wonderful story. For me, it's hard to pick a favorite Ron Howard, almost all his films are great, with few that are awful. Cinderella Man is one of the best boxing movies since Raging Bull and is yet another solid work by director Ron Howard. The film has lots going for it, the film not only plays out as a terrific boxing drama, but the film evokes the troubles and the misery of the Great Depression very well. The story is engaging and the film is superbly directed. Cinderella Man is a well constructed, executed drama film and is one of Ron Howard's best films. If you enjoy boxing drama films, then you should check out Cinderella Man. A wonderful, well acted film that is a must see. Cinderella Man is one of the best boxing films that you can see.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    August 24, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet.

    Saw it again! Perfect movie, no flaws whatsoever. Undoubtedly one or the best sports and boxing movies of all time. To me Russel Crowe on his best performance ever as an actor. Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti did a fant... read moreastic job too. The story is like no other, deeply touching and emotional. It touches you in ways only a movie can.

    Indeed, the characters and the story were the strong points of "Cinderella Man." Much credit should go to Cliff Hollingsworth for a screenplay that included thoughtful dialogue, humor, and multi-dimensional characters. Daniel Orlandi also merits praise for the brilliant costumes that helped to recreate the period of the early 1930s.

    But the heart of this film experience is Russell Crowe's screen portrayal of Braddock. It was the colorful sportswriter and raconteur Damon Runyan who coined the nickname of "Cinderella Man" for Braddock. However, the real James J. Braddock was more than lucky. It was his strength of character in and out of the ring that captivated America. One of the most moving scenes of the film was a heated argument between Braddock and his wife Mae where Braddock insists that even in the most difficult of times, he would refuse to be separated from his children. As a boxer, he was fearless. But he demonstrated even more courage in fighting for family values a lesson from which we can learn a great deal today in reflecting on this sensitive film.

    The story takes place in New York and New Jersey during the Great Depression, a time when people experienced the worst economic hardship in U.S. history. James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) was a light heavyweight boxer, who was forced to retired from the ring after breaking his hand in his last fight. His wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) had prayed for years that he would quit boxing, before becoming permanently injured. To support his family, Braddock works as a laborer at the docks, but he still has a dream to box. Several years after his last fight, Braddock's old manager wants him to be a last-minute substitute to fight against the second-ranked world contender. In this case, Braddock is one of those hungry fighters who astonishes everyone by winning the fight. Braddock is back in the ring and begins to win all his fights against younger, stronger, and heavier boxers. In a sports article, Braddock is named the "Cinderella Man" for his miraculous comeback. Braddock gets a chance to fight the heavyweight champion, Max Baer (Craig Bierko), for the title. Max Baer had killed two men in the ring, and everybody believed Braddock would be number three. As the underdog, Braddock became the champion of the downtrodden masses.
  • fb100001048934982
    June 30, 2011
    fb100001048934982
    At first sight, Ron Howard's 'Cinderella Man' may seem like a better movie than it actually is. Not until after the credits role do you realize that you completely fell for Howards' techniques of dressing up the script and putting on a show. What Cinderella Man lacks in originali... read morety is made up for in pure entertainment. Russell Crowe drags a certain amount of depth into the character to make him a reliable protagonist, although a little uninteresting. An evocative story with good performances and great entertainment value. A strong contender in the challenging competition of boxing films.
  • DreamExtractor
    April 22, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Its not Rocky, but its pretty damn close! Russell Crowe is tremendous, along with Zellweger, but the true light goes on Giamatti for his incredible performance. Ron Howard is one of my favorite Directors and here he puts this Boxing movie up there with the greats.
  • CloudStrife84
    January 21, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Boxing in the 1930's is no more interesting to me than boxing the way it is today. Yet, to my great pleasure and amazement, this was about so much more than just a guy throwing punches in the ring. I even liked it more than Rocky and The Fighter, which should be say... read moreing something of just how great it is. One of the things that makes it so gripping, is that Jim Braddock (played to perfection by Russell Crowe) doesn't just fight for the sake of his career; he fights to support his family and to put food on their table. And when a character does all that just to survive, it takes on a whole different meaning and becomes something that everyone can relate to. In the end, that's what separates this from other boxing movies. Here you feel every punch, become involved in every emotion and root for Braddock to make it out a winner. Ron Howard's film-making may be of very mixed quality, but this is one of the cases where he's pulled out all his aces and given us his very best. As can be said about the cast, who all do marvellous work in their respective roles. A true knock-out of a movie, with as much power in its drama, as there is in Braddock's right hand.
  • fb619846742
    October 9, 2010
    fb619846742
    A competently acted, well told old-school story concerning a boxer (Russell Crowe) who is forced back into the ring due to the Great Depression, and how his wife (Renee Zellwegger) and loyal manager (Paul Giamatti) keep him steady. Although it's obviously heavily derivative of ot... read moreher films (namely "Rocky" and "Seabiscuit", or the two combined together), it packs an undeniable punch thanks to a focused effort by director Ron Howard to make you feel something for these characters (something he has done exceptionally well with in the past, too). So, although there were instances that the film annoyed me (mostly due to cliches here and there), I couldn't deny that I really got into it, especially towards the end. The boxing scenes are incredibly shot, very visceral. Paul Giamatti shines brightest amongst all in a charismatic turn - definitely deserving of the Oscar nomination he received.
  • cosmo313
    September 25, 2010
    cosmo313
    I really liked this movie, and I want to give it a higher grade, but it doesn't quite deserve it. That's unfortunate too, The only things wrong with it (which keep it from being better) are that it's a bit too long, and a tad too draggy here and there.

    Other than that, this i... read mores a well-made, inspiring story of perseverence, hope, and doing what one can to get through hard times. Calling this a Great Depression-era Rocky is not wrong, but it cheapens things. YEs, the general plot is nothing new, but what sets this film apart is that it's a biopic. Not only that, it's rooted in history, and is actually quite accurate in it's portrayal of the times.

    This is a gorgeous looking film, and the set design, costumes, and art direction are amazing. They really nailed the look and feel of the time period. The camera work and editing are decent, but as far as boxing films go, Raging Bull is still the best in these two departments.

    I've noticed that Howard has made several period pieces throughout his career. He's pretty good at them, He's also good at rawing on people's emotions to tell a good story. The acting is probably (next to bringing the period to life) the best thing going on here. Crowe once again delivers an excellent and believable performance. Zelwegger is pretty decent despite the type of character she's playing (which kind of limits things). She is good though, and she also does frumpy and mousy quite well, Giamatti is damn amazing. He got snubbed for Sideways, and this film looked like he'd get an awartd to make up for that, but he got snubbed here, too. That's unfortunate, because he's one of the best and most consistent actors working these days- I love him.

    THis is some good stuff. LIke I said at the beginning, this film should be great, but slightly falters and ends up being mere really good. It's still definitely worth seeing though. Very high B+.
  • guaybanex
    July 16, 2010
    guaybanex
    Underappreciated gem confirm the strength of a Crowe/Howard partnership. Released on the wrong date and marketed poorly, this film should have a place alongside other boxing classics such as Raging Bull. Giamatti is strong; Zellweger is weak.
  • smith44
    June 5, 2010
    smith44
    One of the better Boxing films I have seen. Russell Crowe's is impressive.
  • nelsonpickens
    May 26, 2010
    nelsonpickens
    Much like "A Beautiful mind" Ron Howard drills his movie to the point of historic and personal perfection. All throughout the movie we see the emotional and physical lengths a husband/father will go to provide for his family at a time when that was an uncommon trait. Russell Crow... read moree put his all in the character of Jim Braddock. Much like Braddock, Crowe was fighting for his name as well throughout his career and I think its very apparent throughout the movie, we really see Russell Crowe for the first time

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Critic Reviews

David Ansen
November 1, 2007
David Ansen, Newsweek

Howard's movie skillfully delivers that primal, heart-pounding satisfaction that is the promise of all boxing tales. Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards
September 14, 2005
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

The joy is in the playing, and Ron Howard pulls out all the stops like the organist at the old Madison Square Garden. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
June 11, 2005
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The storytelling is fluid and gripping. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
June 9, 2005
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Just an O.K. vintage fight movie. Full Review

Rex Reed
June 7, 2005
Rex Reed, New York Observer

The thing that ultimately makes it a classic in the pantheon of American movies is the way it reveals something about the idealism, strength, grace and grit of the American Dream. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
June 3, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Cinderella Man is a movie about the indomitability of the American spirit, and those are always far less interesting than movies about actual people. Full Review

Rick Groen
June 3, 2005
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Howard has got but a single message to deliver here -- boxer Braddock as the populist American hero of the Depression era - and he beats us over the head with his uplifting haymaker until we're crumbl... Full Review

Stephen Hunter
June 3, 2005
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

We're in an almost irony-free zone, where everything is exactly as it seems, and no subtexts are available for subtext-fanatics. Full Review

Peter Howell
June 3, 2005
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Ron Howard's Depression-era ode to second chances and noble contests, filmed here last summer, is not just another boxing movie or just another picture. It's a completely absorbing and artfully made f... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 3, 2005
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Easily the best American film so far this year. Full Review

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Cinderella Man Trivia

  • This actor was nominated for an Oscar for his part in Cinderella Man.  Answer »
  • Who starred as Jimmy Braddock in the boxing epic Cinderella Man?  Answer »
  • Which movie starring Russell Crowe was NOT a Best Picture nominee?  Answer »
  • Which actor or actress can be attributed to the following titles? Cinderella Man Gladiator A Beautiful Mind Master and Commander   Answer »
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