Movies: A Man, a Punch, A Simpler Time

Like most boxing pictures, Cinderella Man is about an underdog becoming a top dog. But that description doesn't begin to suggest the distinctions of director Ron Howard's very good, epically scaled film.

To begin with, it tells a true story, that of James J. Braddock, who may be the most unlikely heavyweight champion in history. When we meet Braddock (Russell Crowe), he's a promising pug, who is quickly reduced to has-been status by injuries and the Depression. Howard realizes the period with perfect authenticity: the biting chill, the hungry faces, the bleak desperation.

Crowe's Braddock is similarly genuineĀ—a winning blend of simplicity, stubbornness...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!