'Cinderella Man' -- review (no spoilers)
I managed to get a break from helping Mom pack and move, and caught the early showing of Cinderella Man today at the local multiplex. *G*
I liked it. It was a good movie, but regretfully I can't say that it was a great one. Something was missing, but I'm not sure what (as I recall, I had the same reaction to M&C). The first half dragged -- I thought it could have used some tighter editing to shorten it up. Not that I mind seeing RC get a lot of screentime, lol, but the movie was too long. Although maybe if I didn't hate boxing I might have liked it more.
It definitely reminded me of Seabiscuit, in that it was quite an inspirational story, especially knowing it was all true. But I had wished a long time ago that someone else besides Ron Howard had directed. Thankfully CM isn't as overly-sentimental as I'd feared it might be, but there were enough deliberately-tear-jerking moments that I still wish Russell had found another director who's style is edgier and less emotionally-manipulative. Braddock is almost too perfect at times, for example.
But Russell does his usual phenomenal job of morphing into another unique character. From the first scene, it's James J Braddock on the screen, not Russell Crowe -- or Maximus or John Nash or Bud White or Hando etc etc. It never ceases to amaze me that he can do that movie after movie after movie. He is totally convincing as the good-hearted nice-guy family man, but equally he is totally convincing as down on his luck boxer who still has what it takes to win a big fight. There are a lot of actors who could do one or the other, but not both. When Russell gets *that* familiar look in his eyes in the ring, there's no doubt that he's a guy who could take a brutal beating and still keep going and win. Once again, It's Russell that saves this from being just a so-so film.
And of course, this film has plenty for the female Crowe fans to perve over, with all the scenes in the ring with him wearing nothing but a pair of boxing trunks. :-D Although for me, watching boxing in itself is so NOT sexy, and it kinda ruins the eye candy value. So I actually thought he looked the sexiest in the scene before the title match where he's in the white 'wife-beater' t-shirt. Those ARMS....! *thud*
Giamatti was very good too as Braddock's manager. Zellweger was good as his wife Mae, but nothing particularly notable.
My rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)
I liked it. It was a good movie, but regretfully I can't say that it was a great one. Something was missing, but I'm not sure what (as I recall, I had the same reaction to M&C). The first half dragged -- I thought it could have used some tighter editing to shorten it up. Not that I mind seeing RC get a lot of screentime, lol, but the movie was too long. Although maybe if I didn't hate boxing I might have liked it more.
It definitely reminded me of Seabiscuit, in that it was quite an inspirational story, especially knowing it was all true. But I had wished a long time ago that someone else besides Ron Howard had directed. Thankfully CM isn't as overly-sentimental as I'd feared it might be, but there were enough deliberately-tear-jerking moments that I still wish Russell had found another director who's style is edgier and less emotionally-manipulative. Braddock is almost too perfect at times, for example.
But Russell does his usual phenomenal job of morphing into another unique character. From the first scene, it's James J Braddock on the screen, not Russell Crowe -- or Maximus or John Nash or Bud White or Hando etc etc. It never ceases to amaze me that he can do that movie after movie after movie. He is totally convincing as the good-hearted nice-guy family man, but equally he is totally convincing as down on his luck boxer who still has what it takes to win a big fight. There are a lot of actors who could do one or the other, but not both. When Russell gets *that* familiar look in his eyes in the ring, there's no doubt that he's a guy who could take a brutal beating and still keep going and win. Once again, It's Russell that saves this from being just a so-so film.
And of course, this film has plenty for the female Crowe fans to perve over, with all the scenes in the ring with him wearing nothing but a pair of boxing trunks. :-D Although for me, watching boxing in itself is so NOT sexy, and it kinda ruins the eye candy value. So I actually thought he looked the sexiest in the scene before the title match where he's in the white 'wife-beater' t-shirt. Those ARMS....! *thud*
Giamatti was very good too as Braddock's manager. Zellweger was good as his wife Mae, but nothing particularly notable.
My rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)