So 2005 was just an okay year in film:
Wedding Crashers.....which is still very funny
Goblet Of Fire
40 Year Old Virgin....which does not hold up well
Family Stone....which to me gets better each year
However my number 1 film was
Cinderella Man
Directed by Ron Howard
Screenplay by Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman
Starring Russell Crowe; Renee Zellweger; Paul Giamatti; and Craig Bierko
The film follows James Braddock, a washed up boxer in the middle of the depression...making a comeback to try to just feed his family.
Just a wonderful true story. It takes you right into the heart of the depression. The sadness. The desperation.
The film has great performances by all three leads:
Russell Crowe as Braddock....I think Crowe is one of the best actors of all time and this may be a better performance than his performance in A Beautiful Mind.
Renee Zellweger as Braddock's wife says so much here with a look.
Paul Giamatti as Joe Gould, Braddock's manager. He kind of becomes our eyes. We watch Braddock through him as he falls then rises. Also he adds some really much needed humor.
Craig Bierko as Max Baer. The champ. Every good movie needs a bad guy and he delivers.
This maybe the best film directed by Ron Howard. He is struggling now as a director, but you see this and you realize how good he is.
Now for fun and not so fun facts:
-Crowe was injured by opponents in the boxing ring as they tried to make the boxing scenes as real as possible. He had several concussions and broken teeth.
-Crowe lost 50 pounds to make this film
-The film cost 90 million to make but only made 60 million in the US.
-At one point Penny Marshall was attached to make this film.
Cinderella Man is sooooo underrated. This is not a boxing movie, it is a film about survival and being a good person, and a good husband and father. Perfect!! 5 out of 5 stars for Cinderella Man.
As always thanks for your time from the shadows
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