Film of the Day: 26
Cinderella Man (2005)
The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, the great depression hit the world hard, and it lasted for around ten years. So many people lost their jobs and all their savings including their possessions. Amongst all these men was heavyweight champion James Walter Braddock, who was born today in 1905 in New York City. He was known as the pride of the Irish and for his hard hitting right hand. He had fought Tommy Loughran in 1928 and lost in a 15 round decision. Braddock took the loss very badly and also fractured his right hand in several places, and after that, his career was over.
Then came the great depression and after losing his career, he lost everything else apart from his family. During these times, he struggled very hard to keep his family safe and together by working on the docks. And with his career down the dumps and his hand as it was, it was almost impossible to get a fight. However after a long period of struggling, and with the help of his manager and good friend Joe Gould he got back in the game little by little and earned the nickname "The Cinderella Man".
He became the heavy-weight champion in 1935 but in 1937 he lost to the great Joe Lewis (even though Braddock had knocked him down). Lewis went on to call Braddock the bravest man he ever fought.
The film Cinderella Man was directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13 / Frost/Nixon) and stars Russell Crowe as Braddock. Crow went on to state that it was his favourite of all his performances. It also features a terrific (Oscar nominated) performance from the under-rated Paul Giamatti who plays Joe Gould.
This is one of the best modern boxing films I've ever seen as it not only is a terrific boxing movie, but it honourably pays tribute to the great James J. Braddock and also gives us a "good" feel of the great depression. It's one of Ron Howard's best films and you will enjoy this film whether you like boxing or not.
At times the film may seem as if it's trying very hard for those Oscar nominations (although this is usually the case with a Ron Howard film), yet I got sucked in to this amazing story. It's funny, it's heart-warming but it's also very depressing at times but most of all it had me cheering like the first time I saw Rocky.
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Then came the great depression and after losing his career, he lost everything else apart from his family. During these times, he struggled very hard to keep his family safe and together by working on the docks. And with his career down the dumps and his hand as it was, it was almost impossible to get a fight. However after a long period of struggling, and with the help of his manager and good friend Joe Gould he got back in the game little by little and earned the nickname "The Cinderella Man".
He became the heavy-weight champion in 1935 but in 1937 he lost to the great Joe Lewis (even though Braddock had knocked him down). Lewis went on to call Braddock the bravest man he ever fought.
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| Baer & Braddock (right) - 1935 |
This is one of the best modern boxing films I've ever seen as it not only is a terrific boxing movie, but it honourably pays tribute to the great James J. Braddock and also gives us a "good" feel of the great depression. It's one of Ron Howard's best films and you will enjoy this film whether you like boxing or not.
At times the film may seem as if it's trying very hard for those Oscar nominations (although this is usually the case with a Ron Howard film), yet I got sucked in to this amazing story. It's funny, it's heart-warming but it's also very depressing at times but most of all it had me cheering like the first time I saw Rocky.
I never liked boxing as a sport, with the only exception of Mohammed Ali. That man changed boxing an made it fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteBut now boxing is dead to me.
Regardless of my opinion on boxing, Cinderella Man is actually a very good film and I liked watching it. It's a great story supported by a very talented Actor!