Run time: 2h 24m
I’ve taken a liking to biographical dramas and so I chose to watch “The Cinderella Man” this week. Directed by Ron Howard, the film depicts the life of former boxer James J Braddock. I’ve seen quite a lot of boxing movies so I was a little apprehensive on how original and interesting the film would be, but it had been recommended to me so I gave it a chance.
Plot
The plot centres around the fascinating and complex life of James Braddock as the dangerous lifestyle of his profession impacts his relationship with his wife Mae. The film is a period drama set in the time of the Great Depression and so James is forced into boxing to provide for his family.
I thought the plot was very intriguing and I enjoyed the period element of the story. That’s why I have given it a 9/10 rating.
Acting
The two leads of Mrs and Mr Braddock are played by Russel Crowe and Renee Zellweger. Both actors are seasoned pros and deliver on creating intense chemistry. A special mention to Craig Bierko who plays Max Baer, Braddock’s menacing foe, as he really capture’s the brutal and evil nature of the character.
Due to some solid performances from the key members of the cast, I award the films acting a 8.5/10 rating.
Characters
James Braddock is the protagonist and displays all the traits of one. I found his character very likeable and someone you could easily route for. Max Baer, the antagonist, on the other hand is portrayed as a villainous and vile character. The two are polar opposites which makes for an intense final bout of the film.
The empathetic characters of James and Mae Braddock were very interesting to watch and they exaggerated Baer’s immorality making for a classic hero vs villain story. Therefore, I give the films characters a 9/10 rating.
Dialogue
The film takes place in New Jersey and so the language spoken by the characters has that iconic Northern New Jersey twang. It added to the authenticity of the film and made it seem more realistic. As Braddock was a boxer, the language he uses is dumbed down throughout the film to be more suited to his character.
I personally found that although the language was simple, it contributed to the story contextually and made the film seem more genuine. Therefore, I award the film’s dialogue an 8/10 rating.
Music
The music was put together by Thomas Newman, 6 time academy award nominee and the composer for films like “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”, “Road To Perdition” and “American Beauty”. Newman pairs his music very well with the individual scenes so that one minute your feeling upset and another your bracing yourself due to the tension.
It’s clear to see Newman’s musical prowess, as his music complements the film beautifully. That’s why I will rate the film’s soundtrack 8.5/10.
I came into this movie wondering if it would be just another boxing movie with lots of fight scene’s and action sequences, but luckily it was quite the contrary. There was a lot more depth to the characters and the film’s story, courtesy of director Ron Howard. Therefore, I would recommend this film if you are looking for an engrossing drama. This movie has a good mixture of story and action meaning that, although there are scenes where Braddock comes to blows, there are also plenty of scenes that develop his character.