DVD | Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man is Ron Howard’s take on the inspirational true story of boxing legend James J. Braddock.

Braddock was an up and coming boxer, with an impressive record until injury and lost confidence brought him a string of bad luck, this combined with the on-set of the depression, set him sliding into obscurity and poverty.

Desperate for work, and on the verge of loosing his kids, Braddock is offered one last fight against an opponent that is expected to knock him out in the first round. But in the stuff of fairytales, Braddock finds that he has something to fight for and wins the fight by a knockout.

But it was only a one-fight deal and it’s back to the poverty line.

But Joe Gould (played by the always spectacular Paul Giamatti), Braddock’s manager manages to swing him another fight, which could, as slim a chance as it would be, secure him a journey to the heavy weight title.

Knowing nothing of the history behind this movie probably helped with the excitement and edge of your seats thrills, as even though you think you know how it’s going to finish, you’re never really sure.

Whilst it’s based on a true story, Ron Howard has used artistic license to provide the viewer with an easy villain in Max Baer, which helps increase the tension. Howard however portrays the depression era hardships with some gritty realism.

Personal Thoughts
One of the most interesting scenes is at the press conference before the big fight, where one journalist asks Braddock why he keeps on fighting. The journalist was probably expecting some egotistical comment, but Braddock keeps it simple and to the point; “For milk.”

In an era where work was hard to find, and poverty was a reality and a widespread danger in American society, James J Braddock was fighting just so his family could survive.