Cinderella Man [WS] [Blu-ray]

Overview

The true story of an athlete who achieved his greatest success against the most daunting odds of his life is brought to the screen in this historical drama. In the 1920s, James Braddock (Russell Crowe) from Bergen, NJ, was a promising contender in professional boxing; he had strength, spirit, and tenacity, but the combination of a serious hand injury and a 1929 defeat in a bout with light heavyweight champ Tommy Loughran sent his career into a serious tailspin. As Braddock's career in the ring dried up, the Great Depression put a stake through the heart of America's economy, and Braddock found himself working at the New York docks for pitiful wages as he tried to support his wife, Mae (Ren?e Zellweger), and three children. Desperate for money, Braddock turned to his former trainer and manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), who was unexpectedly able to scare up a bout for him, battling John Griffin at Madison Square Garden. While conventional wisdom had it that Braddock was too old, out of shape, and out of practice to have any chance of winning, he defeated Griffin, and continued beating his opponents with a powerful left hook that had been intensified by years of punishing dock work. In a nation desperate for good news, Braddock's surprising comeback became a tonic to struggling workers and unemployed people, and all eyes were on Braddock when in 1935 he took on powerful heavyweight champion Max Baer (Craig Bierko) in what was both literally and figuratively the fight of his life.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/26/2009
UPC:	0025195055536
Original Release:	2005
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	2:25:00
Sales rank:	20,050

Special Features

Feature commentary with director Ron Howard; Feature commentary with co-writer Akiva Goldsman; Feature commentary with co-writer Cliff Hollingsworth; Deleted scenes; The Fight Card: casting Cinderella Man; For the Record: a history in boxing; Ringside seats; Jim Braddock: the friends & family behind the legend; Pre-fight preparations; Lights, camera, action: the fight from every angle; Braddock vs. Baer fight footage; Photo montage; The sound of the bell; Cinderella Man music featurette; The human face of the depression; Russell Crowe's personal journey: becoming Jim Braddock

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Russell Crowe	Jim Braddock
Renée Zellweger	Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti	Joe Gould
Craig Bierko	Max Baer
Paddy Considine	Mike Wilson
Bruce McGill	Jimmy Johnston
David Huband	Ford Bond
Connor Price	Jay Braddock
Ariel Waller	Rosemarie Braddock
Patrick Louis	Howard Braddock
Rosemarie DeWitt	Sara
Linda Kash	Lucille Gould
Nicholas Campbell	Sporty Lewis
Gene Pyrz	Jake
Charles Shamata	Father Rorick
Krysta Carter	Actor
Ron Canada	Joe Jeanette
Alicia Johnston	Alice
Troy Amos-Ross	Actor
Art Binkowski	Corn Griffin
David Litziinger	Actor
Matthew G. Taylor	Primo Carnera
Rance Howard	Announcer Al Fazin,Referee
Jim Ritz	Official
Fulvio Cecere	Referee McAvoy
Ray Marsh	Referee
Dave Dunbar	Referee
Rufus Crawford	Lewis Coach
Angelo Dundee	Angelo the Cornerman
Lou Eisen	Braddock Cornerman
Wayne Gordon	Braddock Cornerman
Wayne Flemming	Baer Cornerman
Nick Alachiotis	Baer Cornerman
Christopher D. Amos	Lewis Cornerman
Keith Murphy	Lasky Cornerman
Everton McEwan	Lasky Cornerman
Sean Gilroy	Feldman Cornerman
Michael Chin	Carnera Cornerman
Peter Wylie	Campbell Cornerman
Stuart Clark	Frankie Campbell
Eric Fink	Announcer,Church Girl
Sergio Di Zio	Young Reporter
Gavin Grazer	Reporter
Boyd Banks	Reporter
Judah Katz	Reporter
Angelo Tsarouchas	Reporter
Craig Warnock	1928 Fan
Aaron Abrams	1928 Fan
Duff MacDonald	1935 Fan
Andrew Stelmack	1935 Fan
Christopher Crumb	1935 Fan
Gerry Quigley	Quincy
Peter MacNeill	Electric Man
Darrin Brown	Promoter
John Healy	Dock Worker
Peter Didiano	Dock Worker
James Kirchner	Dock Worker
Magdalena Alexander	Angry Woman
Nola Augustson	Relief Office Woman
Gino Marrocco	Waiter
Sharron Matthews	Lady
Alec Stockwell	Church Man
Chick Roberts	Church Old Man
Beau Starr	Sam
Philip Craig	Radio Commentator
Roman Podhora	Hooverville Cop
R.D. Reid	Hooverville Cop
Michael Dyson	Hooverville Man
Sam Malkin	Gibson
Tony Munch	Sam Penny
Conrad Bergschneider	Limo Driver
Richard Binsley	Announcer
Ramona Pringle	Flapper Girl
Alon Nashman	Deserting Father
Domenic Cuzzocrea	Junket
Neil Foster	Security Guard
Brian Jagersky	Cop
Tim Eddis	Fight Promoter
Debra Sherman	Mother

Technical Credits

Ron Howard

Cliff Hollingsworth

Akiva Goldsman

Ron Howard	Screenwriter,Director,Producer
Cliff Hollingsworth	Screenwriter
Akiva Goldsman	Screenwriter
Penny Marshall	Producer
Brian Grazer	Producer
Todd Hallowell	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Despite exemplary reviews and more-than-ample media coverage, this Depression-era drama failed to achieve the box-office success predicted for it -- an inexplicable circumstance, because Cinderella Man stands head and shoulders above most of 2005's films. It’s the inspiring story of New Jersey-born boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe in yet another Oscar-worthy performance), a once promising heavyweight reduced to working as a dockhand after a broken hand takes him out of contention for the title. Down but never out, Braddock and his loyal wife, Mae (Renée Zellweger), manage to keep their family intact. With help from his manager (Paul Giamatti), Braddock eventually gets back in the ring -- and starts winning. His unlikely ascent captures the attention of the newspapers and the fans, and it soon becomes apparent that this family man is headed for a title match with reigning champ Max Baer (Craig Bierko), a formidable fighter whose punching power has already caused the death of one opponent. Braddock’s rags-to-riches story teems with the kind of incidents that would appear to be the invention of studio screenwriters, but in this case they actually happened. When Braddock began winning again, for example, he did repay government welfare funds he had earlier accepted. However, there’s at least one unfortunate deviation from reality: director Ron Howard and writer Cliff Hollingsworth's portrayal of Baer as a bloodthirsty brute. Baer’s heirs justifiably protested the demonization; but it works to the film’s advantage, enhancing the suspense surrounding the Big Fight, which is one of the most technically convincing and emotionally satisfying bouts ever committed to celluloid. Boasting exemplary work from all involved, Cinderella Man is Hollywood entertainment in the best possible sense of the term.