Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill and the rest of the cast give flawless performances. The camera work is both subtle and, in turn, spectacular. The story, while familiar, is executed brilliantly. Regardless of the risk, it's a pay day needed by both Gould and Braddock. He pits Braddock, out of shape and with one day notice, against the number two heavy weight contender. Gould, is that brave manager, if not literally, in spirit. As a result, Cochan had his head handed to him multiple times by the likes of Jake LaMotta and other class middle weights of the Forties and Fifties. A boxer by the name of George Cochan once told me his manager was the bravest man he ever knew, he was willing to pit his man (Cochan) against anyone. And then there's Joe Gould, played by Paul Giamatti. Her husband's courage is undoubted, but his nerve is killing her. His wife, Mae, played by Renee Zelleweger, wants to be his biggest fan, but the kids need a dad, the rent has to get paid and the money from boxing dried up along time ago. Injury, bad luck and this thing called the Depression sends him down the drain. Russell Crowe owns the character of James Braddock, the unlikely hero who makes the most of his second chance. Better yet, instead of getting the picture, go see it. This movie is about the best 140 minute I've spent in a movie theater since. He's fighting for his family, he's fighting for all those other hopeless people. Down and out guy gets a break and makes the most of it. Geez, another boxing movie! Yeah, Yeah, I know the story. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer (Craig Bierko), renowned for having killed two men in the ring. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. Driven by love, honor, and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. Braddock never relinquished his determination.
His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, his family-the only thing that mattered to him-was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief.
By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up, and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom.
Braddock (Russell Crowe), aka the Cinderella Man, was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. During the Great Depression, common-man hero James J.
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