Cinderella Man (2005)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Cliff Hollingsworth (story)
Cliff Hollingsworth (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved.

Plot:

The story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed up boxer who came back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s.

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Great Depression | Boxer | 1930s | Dock

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 29	5:00 PM	TNT
Sun. Nov. 29	10:55 PM	TNT

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Jim Braddock
Renée Zellweger	...	Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti	...	Joe Gould
Craig Bierko	...	Max Baer
Paddy Considine	...	Mike Wilson
Bruce McGill	...	Jimmy Johnston
David Huband	...	Ford Bond
Connor Price	...	Jay Braddock
Ariel Waller	...	Rosemarie Braddock
Patrick Louis	...	Howard Braddock
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Sara Wilson
Linda Kash	...	Lucille Gould
Nicholas Campbell	...	Sporty Lewis
Gene Pyrz	...	Jake
Chuck Shamata	...	Father Rorick

Also Known As:

El luchador (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
A Luta Pela Esperança (Brazil) [pt]
Cinderella Man (Finland) [fi]
Cinderella Man (Greece) [el]
Cinderella Man (Canada: French title) [fr]
Cinderella Man (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Cinderella Man - Una ragione per lottare (Italy) [it]
Das Comeback (Germany) [de]
De l'ombre à la lumière (France) [fr]
El hombre que no se dejó tumbar (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language.

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41365) | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Belgium:KT | Venezuela:PG-13 | Malaysia:18SG (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Hungary:14 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:All | Ireland:15 | South Africa:10V | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Germany:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Distillery District, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Clive Owen was also considered for the lead role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The credits list Benny Goodman's version of "Don't Be That Way" as the song playing in the club when Braddock meets Baer. That version of the song was first performed/recorded several years later, in 1938, at Carnegie Hall.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Gould: Attaboy! Keep him busy!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: Cinderella Man (#12.12)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Put That Sun Back in the Sky

Wonderful!!!

This is the best film Ron Howard has ever done. They really caught lightning in a bottle with this one. All the departments brought their A game to the table. I especially loved the editing and cinematography.

The cast is perfect and, under Ron Howard's confident hand, all give amazing performances. Russel Crowe's soulful performance puts him back in Maximus territory here and, boy, was this cat born to play these types of roles. Bruce McGill is in it (San Antonio, represent!!!) and that's always a good thing.

My only complaint (if it can be called that) is that the boxing sequences break no new ground. They are very reminiscent of the boxing sequences in Raging Bull. They are so well executed, however, that I quickly forgot about this small nitpick.

The script works on so many levels, it's not even funny. There is plenty of time devoted to character development and it pays off handsomely in the long run as we really care about Jim Braddock every time he steps in the ring.

All in all, Cinderella Man is a rousing, classy film that utterly satisfies.