Cinderella Man

[Brian in Mesa]

Cinderella Man

Release Date: June 3, 2005
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Ron Howard
Screenwriter: Cliff Hollingsworth, C. Gaby Mitchell, Akiva Goldsman
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense boxing violence and some language)
Website: Cinderella Man

Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Bruce McGill, Paddy Considine

Plot Summary: Russell Crowe stars in the story inspired by the life of legendary athlete Jim Braddock, a once-promising light heavyweight boxer forced into retirement after a string of losses in the ring. As the nation enters the darkest years of the Great Depression, Braddock accepts a string of dead-end jobs to support his wife, Mae (Renée Zellweger), and their children, while never totally abandoning his dream of boxing again.

Thanks to a last minute cancellation, Braddock finds himself back in the ring against the second-ranked world contender--and to everyone's amazement, Braddock wins in the third round. Despite being pounds lighter than his opponents and repeated injuries to his hands, Braddock continues to fight against challengers and win. Carrying on his shoulders the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised masses, Braddock, dubbed the "Cinderella Man," faces his toughest challenger in Max Baer (Craig Bierko), the heavyweight champion of the world, renowned for having killed two men in the ring.

 

[Pariah]

This movie looks fantastic, IMO! TiVo was running the trailer a week or so ago (maybe they still are).

 

[Ryanwb]

This movie looks fantastic, IMO! TiVo was running the trailer a week or so ago (maybe they still are).

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Father:

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Son:

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[MigratingOsprey]

I'm pumped for this movie ... i read the book by Jeremy Schaap before even knowing this movie was being made

An incredible story ... should be a great movie

 

[Brian in Mesa]

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BUMP

Opens today.

BIM

 

[Lefty]

USA Today gave this movie four stars out of a possible four. I am definitely going to see this film.

 

[Brian]

Just went and saw this today.

I'll try not to post any spoilers (as if there could be any, it's history)

I guess overall it was a good movie, I just had one MAJOR problem.

I wish Ron Howard would have picked something else to make a movie about.

The jist of the movie is how James J. Braddock defeated Max Baer, which is true. The movie spent too much time portraying Baer as some kind of an a-hole. Baer was a bonafide nice guy, and after the the fight against Frankie Campbell (which Campbell died from, and is alluded to many times in the movie) Baer was never the same. He felt terrible about Campbell's death, and was far from proud of it, the movie would have you believe otherwise.

Braddock defeating Baer was in reality more like me beating Joe Johnson in a highly publicized 3 point shooting contest. Baer NEVER took it seriously.

Maybe I'm just a stickler for fact over fiction and what makes good hollywood.

You can read the truth here: http://www.maxboxing.com/mulcahey/mulcahey0411a05.asp

 

[HeavyB3]

It was a great movie. However, the screen projector crapped out and I don't know how their lives went after he helped build the bridge in the 1960's. I got a free movie ticket out of it though.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i haven't seen it yet

however, i was afraid that they would paint baer as a ruthless evil guy to make the story more appealing to the masses

baer didn't really enjoy boxing and after he killed campbell, he really didn't like showing off his strength and would often let up on opponents

he was very social and a nice guy by all accounts ... a womanizer, playboy, social set kind of guy who was outspoken and thought himself unbeatable ... fighting was just a means to the lifestyle and a door to get him into acting (which he really wanted)

i wouldn't demean the fight though ... it was a legit heavyweight battle, promoted by the garden with the belts on the line

baer didn't really take it seriously ... then again he never trained hard or took boxing seriously (if he did I think he would of owned the division until joe louis came along)

also he had a title rematch with schmelling set up in london and some other fights on the horizon which would of been big gates, so this was something he had to win .. w/out the belts your price goes down

i'm still pumped to go see it though .. just which they didn't always try to make boxing as simple as good vs evil in the movie context (like painting schmelling a nazi - whom baer knocked out while sporting the star of david on his trunks)

 

[Lefty]

This movie was great. It's the first movie I went to that the people clapped after the movie.

In the book it mentions Baer was not taking Braddock seriously. Max pissed Jack Dempsey off before the fight took place by saying he was going to fight Braddock, Joe Louis and Schmeling, then would retire and his brother could fight for the title. Obviously he lost not only to Bradock, he lost to Louis.

During the Braddock fight, Baer was penalized three rounds for hitting back handed and he spent much of his time waving at the crowd and at a blonde who was sitting in the front row with her legs open."

In the book, Baer said he quit in the Louis fight. I think Baer fought for the money and the lifestyle(women) it brought..

Also, like the movie said, Joe Louis said Braddock was the bravest opponent he had faced and everytime he saw Jim, he would call him champ. Louis never referred anyone else by champ.

 

[marathon_mom]

Saw this with hubby tonight. LOVED it! Thanks for the info on the real story but.....still LOVED it.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Theater chains offers money-back guarantee

LOS ANGELES, -- Universal Pictures hopes its campaign to
pump box-office life into "Cinderella Man" may benefit from
a money-back guarantee being offered by AMC Theatres. The
Russell Crowe-Renée Zellweger boxing drama has enjoyed
strong word-of-mouth, but it has failed to catch on with
the marketplace -- taking in just $50 million since it
opened June 3. AMC is promising moviegoers who don't like
the movie their ticket price will be refunded, no questions
asked, The Hollywood Reporter said. The Kansas City, Mo.-
based chain is the country's second-largest. AMC announced
the promotion last Friday at all of its theaters where the
film was playing. AMC executives Dick Walsh and Phil
Singleton initiated the money-back guarantee. Nikki Rocco,
Universal's president of distribution, told The Reporter
it was a bold move. "It's great that they want to go out
on the limb for the film," said Rocco. Moviegoers who take
AMC up on its offer must present a ticket stub at the box
office the same day it was purchased.

 

[marathon_mom]

Theater chains offers money-back guarantee

LOS ANGELES, -- Universal Pictures hopes its campaign to
pump box-office life into "Cinderella Man" may benefit from
a money-back guarantee being offered by AMC Theatres. The
Russell Crowe-Renée Zellweger boxing drama has enjoyed
strong word-of-mouth, but it has failed to catch on with
the marketplace -- taking in just $50 million since it
opened June 3. AMC is promising moviegoers who don't like
the movie their ticket price will be refunded, no questions
asked, The Hollywood Reporter said. The Kansas City, Mo.-
based chain is the country's second-largest. AMC announced
the promotion last Friday at all of its theaters where the
film was playing. AMC executives Dick Walsh and Phil
Singleton initiated the money-back guarantee. Nikki Rocco,
Universal's president of distribution, told The Reporter
it was a bold move. "It's great that they want to go out
on the limb for the film," said Rocco. Moviegoers who take
AMC up on its offer must present a ticket stub at the box
office the same day it was purchased.

 

[Pariah]

Great movie. I'll go out on a limb and say it wins best picture.

 

[UncleChris]

Absolutely fantastic..... 6 out of 5 stars!

 

[Shane]

Just saw it on video. What a great movie! I dunno about best picture but Russell Crowe Def deserves another Oscar nomination.

 

[100%CardsFan]

Just saw it on video. What a great movie! I dunno about best picture but Russell Crowe Def deserves another Oscar nomination.

Are you telling me with all of the stuff you confinscate, no criminal has a DVD player???

 

[Shane]

Are you telling me with all of the stuff you confinscate, no criminal has a DVD player???

Thats what I meant.

 

[arthurracoon]

Awesome movie!!!

 

[Bada0Bing]

I just watched it. Great movie. I read on IMDB that Crowe lost 50 pounds for the role.

 

[CardFan67]

Pleasantly surprised... Very well done...

 

[Jersey Girl]

Just saw this last night. Loved it. Thought Crowe and Zellwegger were both great.

One of my favorite lines from the movie was "Hey, all your ugly friends from Jersey are here ..." I'm gonna keep that one, lol!

 

[D-Dogg]

Fan-freaking-tastic film. I loved it...one of the better shot boxing movies. I love the depression era as my father grew up during that time.

Just a great film, and Crowe proves why he's an amazing actor; you always see the character he portrays, not the actor. He brings his characters to life.

Finally got around to seeing this last night and I will definitely watch it again.

 

[Chaplin]

Fan-freaking-tastic film. I loved it...one of the better shot boxing movies. I love the depression era as my father grew up during that time.

Just a great film, and Crowe proves why he's an amazing actor; you always see the character he portrays, not the actor. He brings his characters to life.

Finally got around to seeing this last night and I will definitely watch it again.

I also loved Cinderella Man, although Ron Howard really does go for the heartstrings, which can and cannot be a good thing.