It could be posited that Americans are fixated with professional sports as simplest way of achieving the quintessential American Dream, as evidenced by the myriad of Hollywood films that have capitalized on this notion, most notably the Rocky franchise. However, this trope is not merely confined to fiction, as history has also borne witness to instances of individuals rising from the lower echelons of society to achieve greatness through their prowess in sports. A prime example of this is the story covered in the 2005 sports biopic Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard.
The title alludes to the moniker bestowed upon the protagonist, a professional boxer Jim Braddock (played by Russell Crowe). The plot commences in 1928, with Braddock, known as the "Bulldog of Bergen", having achieved a level of success that allowed him to build a comfortable life for himself, his wife Mae, and their three children. Fast forward to 1933, and Braddock's fortunes have taken a precipitous turn, his boxing career in tatters due to a debilitating injury to his right arm. As the economic downturn of Great Depression ravages the nation, Braddock's personal struggles are mirrored by the broader misfortune that has befallen the country.
Desperate to provide for his family, Braddock turns to work as a longshoreman, but the scarcity of employment and meagre wages prove woefully inadequate in covering the bills, medicine, and food. It is against this grim backdrop that Braddock receives an offer from his manager and old friend, Joe Gould (played by Paul Giamatti), to participate in a single bout. In a stunning turn of events, Braddock defies the odds and emerges victorious, marking the commencement of a miraculous winning streak that would propel him into the spotlight and present him with the opportunity to challenge for the title of heavyweight champion of the world. However, his path to the title will not be without its challenges, as he must first vanquish the formidable Max Baer (played by Craig Bierko), a skilled fighter with a reputation for invincibility, and also known for killing two of his opponents in the ring.
The easiest way to describe Cinderella Man is "safe" and "formulaic," although in this particular case, it doesn't seem to be a bad thing. The film was made by the team that had won an Oscar with A Beautiful Mind, another biopic, a few years earlier - producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and Russell Crowe starring in the title role. The film faithfully and unapologetically follows the formula of an underdog getting his shot at glory and success and winning against the odds, while keeping his humility and being motivated solely by noblest intentions. Despite the one-dimensional nature of this role, Crowe took it very seriously and played Braddock very well, even spending large amounts in the gym to gain some boxing skills.
Crowe's performance is well-matched by the rest of the cast, and that includes Renee Zelwegger as his saintly wife and Paul Giamatti as his loyal friend, a role that brought Giamatti a nomination for Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Howard, as a seasoned director with a diverse filmography, handles Cinderella Man well, although he doesn't do much to help with some of its flaws. Mainly, the story is rather predictable, even to those unfamiliar with 1930s boxing history, and the protagonist being too perfect must be compensated by turning Baer into some sort of villain by having him portrayed as an arrogant playboy, so different from Braddock as a devout family man.
Another issue of the film is the pacing, which can be explained by the desire to justify a very high budget and give Cinderella Man some sort of epic feel. The desire to bring the audience to the 1930s also results in rather impressive reconstructions of the historic period, marked by poverty and despair, best embodied in scenes in Hooverville that are actually more moving than what goes on in the ring.
Despite its flaws, Cinderella Man is a film that deserves recommendation, and not only for boxing fans but also for those viewers who want to see fairytales that, like in this particular case, actually happened in real life.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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