100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #59: Cinderella Man (2005)

Directed by Ron Howard. Starring Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti.

Introducing, in this corner, a heavyweight champion of a movie, a hard hitting underdog story, a sensational cinematic event: Cinderella Man. Ron Howard’s 2005 boxing movie is a story about an Irish-American boxer from New Jersey, who battles opponents in the ring and poverty in his life during the Great Depression era. Starring Russell Crowe as real-life boxer James J. Braddock, the titular “Man,” this film packages so many attractive movie elements into one inspiring story. On the surface, it’s just a fun boxing period piece. Deeper down this film is so much more than the average sports movie. It has action, obviously, but also romance, amazing acting, magnificent music, clever cinematography, all wrapped together and based on a true story.

Maybe I understand, some, about having to fight. So you just remember who you are... you’re the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey, you’re everybody’s hope, and the kids’ hero, and you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock. - Mae Braddock (Renée Zellweger)

The action follows the real comeback story of Braddock, who after losing his boxing license, his money and almost everything he has, fights back both as a boxer and as a man. The romance between Braddock and his wife, Mae, is an inspiring example of the love and support necessary in marriage. Zellweger gives a heartfelt performance as Mrs. Braddock, who strives to support her husband despite his struggles to provide, and without fully understanding or agreeing with his chosen profession as a boxer. Crowe and Zellweger both showcase exemplary acting , but the standout performance comes from Paul Giamatti with his award-winning portrayal of Braddock’s boxing manager, Joe Gould. Giamatti captivates the audience almost more than Crowe. Gould does everything he can, even selling many of his own possessions, to get Braddock back into the fight. Giamatti brings the audience to tears of joy and sorrow with his energetic and yet deeply passionate acting. The music too reaches into the heart, with its combination of 1920s style swing, Irish jig, and moving soundtrack pieces written by Thomas Newman. Newman is the genius behind such emotional scores as the ones for Finding Nemo, The Shawshank Redemption, 1917 and many more. The cinematography radiates with creativity and immerses viewers into every scene. In order to get the full impact for each fight, the cinematography team, led by Salvatore Totino, created a “tire-cam” to better capture the fight perspective: essentially a camera mounted in a tire with a plexiglass face that the actors could punch. This allows for the head-on shots of the boxers punching right into the camera, creating very “impactful” shots. They also utilize a handheld camera, long 360-degree panning shots, and stylized lighting to better showcase the physicality of the boxing matches. This film is a great example of how to weave multiple themes or elements into one great story. Every story theme, every emotional moment, every filming technique builds together and climaxes in the title fight for the heavyweight championship. This film wears many hats; really expensive and masterfully crafted hats that are sewn together to form one giant kingly crown.

Each of these hats deserves its own spotlight, but where this movie truly shines is in its heartbreaking depiction of Braddock and his family’s struggle in the Great Depression. It is the other half of the comeback story and the focal point of the movie. The film opens with Braddock on the hunt for glory, amidst fame and victory. Shortly, and with one clever transition shot of Braddock in front of the dressing table, all the glitter and gold fades to make way for cold and dirty poverty. He loses almost everything he has, even his boxing license. Yet through all the suffering Braddock never stops fighting for his family and he never compromises his integrity. One sequence of the movie says it best. He gives up his breakfast for his daughter. The milkman does not deliver the milk because the bills are past due. His job as a longshoreman does not give any shifts that day. His son, afraid of getting sent away by his parents, steals food. After returning the food with his son, Braddock promises to never send his children away. He breaks his hand in a boxing fight and then his license as a boxer is revoked. Bills stack up for the Braddocks and soon their heating and electricity are turned off. Forced to scrounge for fuel for the woodstove and with the kids getting sick, his wife sends the kids away breaking Braddock’s promise to his son. In a heartbreaking moment, Braddock scrambles to come up with the money to “Pay the heating bill and get the kids back.” He goes to get public assistance relief money, and finally goes to the boxing committee members to beg for the money he desperately needs. This sequence is a visual representation of “rock bottom.” Braddock will do almost anything for his family. He will give up eating, he will work through a broken hand, and he will beg (he will not steal). He tells his wife that staying together as a family is the reason to keep trying everyday, to push through the trials, and to never throw in the towel. Shortly after, his second chance comes: “One more fight.” Which launches the second act as Braddock wins his bout and gets an opportunity to clash for the title. He is fighting for “milk,” and his battle to come back from destitution inspires so many people around him to push just a little bit more. Braddock’s story becomes the story of thousands of others who are down on their luck. If he can make it, so can they.

James J. Braddock fights for them.

I didn’t always lose. I won’t always lose again.

Cinderella Man is a great example of how to suffer well. Suffering is part of the human condition. Times always seem to be tough, and sometimes nothing goes well. Films provide inspiring examples of people who struggle, yet also push forward and never give up no matter how bad it gets. No one goes to the cinema to see suffering, but no one should go to the movies just to escape it either. Instead, movies can give us strength or perhaps insight to return to our own sufferings and bear them well. Walking away from a movie with an emotional impact helps us face the troubles in our own lives. We often live our lives in imitation and a good movie provides powerful examples of virtue and character for us to imitate. Cinderella Man is just such a movie. It is a heartening depiction of a good father and husband, a loving and supportive wife, a sacrificial and encouraging manager. In many ways it is a brutal film and depicts such a harsh reality. Yet at the same time it emboldens us to face our own lives with the same fortitude as Braddock. To take our punches and never give up. James J. Braddock fights for us too.

I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.