Cinderella Man (2005)
Ron Howard is a great filmmaker.
He really knows how to make epic stories for the silver
screen. And he does just that here. That's exactly
what you get with "Cinderella Man." An epic story
made for the silver screen using every technique on
expects in such a film exactly by the book. This isn't
a cinematic experience as much as a "paint by numbers"
on how to make an epic depression-era story for the
mass market.
It's the same problem that plagued
Howard's "Far and Away." While everything is perfect
in the film, each note hit in perfect pitch at the
perfect time, it's also as if a computer were playing
a Beethoven symphony. There is no real heart here
except the prefabricated one predicated by the script
and the actors involved, no emotional resonance except
for the one indicated by the note for note perfection
of Thomas Newman's score.
Russell Crowe is an asshole, there
is no doubt, but he is also one of the most interesting
actors in mainstream films today. He's everything
Kevin Spacey wishes to be with a bi- polar, split-personality
to boot. Crowe hammers away at this film like a man
on a mission to make an exceptional, epic story come
to life. And the same can be said for Renee Zellweger
and Paul Giamatti and everyone else in the film. Everyone
does exactly what they are supposed to do here. There
are no surprises and certainly nothing out of the
ordinary when it comes to telling an epic depression-era
"underdog" story.
In the end, Howard's "Cinderella
Man" is nothing more than "Seabiscuit" meets "Rocky"
with a hint of "Fight Club" thrown in to get the testosterone
pumping. There's blood for the guys in the audience,
tears for the women, and everything ends up happily.
The perfect epic story for the silver screen. Expect
nothing less. Howard gives us nothing more.
Notes:
Also with Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine,
Bruce McGill and Howard's father Rance and brother
Clint.
Rosemarie DeWitt, who plays Sara
Wilson is a descendent of Jim Braddock, the subject
of the film.
Howard along with partner Brian
Grazer and Penny Marshall were listed as producers.
Marshall and Lasse Hallstrom were both going to make
the film at times.
Max Baer, Jr. who played Jethro
on TV's "The Beverly Hillbillies" voiced some concerns
about how his father was portrayed in the film before
it was released.
Released in June of 2005 to lackluster
grosses. Over the July 4th weekend, a couple of theater
chains offered money-back guarantees to anyone who
saw the film and did not like it.
Filmed in Canada.
Viewed in Pflugerville in June 2005.
