Cinderella Man - movie review
Theres something about a movie that covers the best, or worst, of sports that I like. I dont like to sit and watch sporting events (well, most... I do enjoy volleyball), and Im not the person who will jump into a pick-up game or will join a team. I dont join things. Joining is not my style and I find it nearly impossible to justify the act of joining a group or team. This makes for some interesting interchanges between me and others.
Regardless, I do enjoy a good movie that revolves around sporting events. Take boxing as an example. When Million Dollar Baby came out on DVD I bought it and really enjoyed it. I wanted to see, at about the same time, Cinderella Man in the theatres but didnt immediately get around to it and when I finally decided to go to a showing it had left the area I was in (Concord, NH). So, I had to wait an extra six months for Cinderella Man to come out on DVD and I gotta tell you, it was worth the wait.
Cinderella Man is a sem-true biopic of one James J. Braddock. A boxer during the Great Depression in the United States whod been near the top of his game right before the depression but, due to injury and other factors, had started a losing streak and continued to lose until 1934, about midway through the great depression. The movie begins with him winning, and ends with him winning, but its the heartbreak that causes Jim Braddock to work hard to keep his family together and to swallow his pride in accepting public assistance that is really heartbreaking. I dont, personally, know how difficult the Great Depression was, but I do know from what Ive heard and read that a lot of people were out of work, employers were not increasing the workforce on the payrolls, and in the end many people were left to the good graces of those who had and employers who paid pennys on the dollar for workers during that time. Many people lost fortunes because of the stock market and because of an investment bubble that had burst. Jim Braddock was no different. Hed invested, hed saved for the future, hed purchased a home, and even invested in businesses that shouldve continued to help pay for his families needs, and the depression wiped all of that away.
On the surface, Cinderella Man is a movie about boxing. I can get behind that. There is something very simple, and yet highly complex, about watching two men (or women) standing in a ring pounding on each other. There are blocks to every blow and counter-blows for every block. People tend to lose stamina and ability and many boxing matches end with the man (or woman) who has a little more stamina and moxie as the one who wins. Many matches end in a KO as well, but to have someone KO everyone that comes into the ring really isnt realistic.
This movie isnt just about boxing. Its about family and keeping your family together. There were vignettes where you got to see how the neighbors families were being broken up and children were sent off to live with relatives because parents couldnt afford to feed and clothe them. Jim Braddock didnt want that to happen to his children and made a promise, early in the movie, to one of his children to ensure that wouldnt happen. He ate a lot of pride to keep his family together, worked many jobs, took multiple shifts, gave food away to his children, and did whatever it took to keep his children safe, happy, and healthy and his family together.
Because of injury he couldnt box and he was banned from professional boxing. Time elapses, they needed someone to come and take a beating, Jims buddy got him the fight, and next thing you know, a broken Jim Braddock was back in the ring fighting to keep his family together. It wasnt about winning or losing or the cost of the purse; but rather, about making some extra cash to get out of debt and to keep his children in his home. He says, at one point in the movie, I know what I am fighting for, and when he was asked what that was for his answer was, Milk.
Many people participate in professional sports to make money and for fame. Jim Braddock was interested in paying his debts and keeping his family together and, ultimately, in providing for them. Hebecame the World Heavyweight Champion and, instead of living life large, he bought a house, invested in machinery and businesses that would allow him to continue providing for his family, and he and his wife continued to live in that house for the rest of their lives. He wasnt interested living beyond his means, he wasnt interested in constantly looking for the next best fight or the next best thing, he was interested in providing for his family.
The movie ends with him winning the Heavyweight title. As you watch the various matches you get the feeling that it is possible that Jim is going to lose and lose it all. You sit on the edge of your seat. You hope that by the time all is said and done that Jim does win and that his family is safe, but there is always the chance.
This is a good movie though I dont know I would suggest it to everyone. There is a lot of boxing (hence the movie about boxing) and boxing is a violent sport. However, if you can deal with the face pounding this is a movie worth watching.