Cinderella Man

CNA - Chuck-Norris Approved Movie #1

The Good: With a triumph-against-all-the-odds epic like this one, there's very little not to love.
The Bad: Realizing that you'll never be the man Jimmy Braddock was.
Bottom line: Sit. Watch. Feel. Emulate.

First of all, Chuck Norris sucks. The only reason this category is called Chuck-Norris approved is because of the fact that he is somehow, commonly accepted as one of the manliest men on the planet. But, I argue, that such an assumption is a terrible mistake, and that the only reason he is considered as such is because of his own assertions of his manlihood. Not to mention, the whole “Chuck Norris is a badass” craze is really making fun of him, not idolizing him. With that said, we move on to a real man, James J. Braddock.

Jimmy Braddock is the protagonist of perhaps one of the greatest, not to mention true, underdog triumphs of all time. With a wife and three kids during the great depression, Braddock struggled to make ends meat, literally. Going days at a time without food, Braddock was a recurring undercard in the boxing ring, in his original hay-day nothing more than your average gutsy young up-and-comer. He failed to make it to the big show the first go around, coming to a no-decision in several contests, with the crowds booing. With a broken hand, and given up because of a seemingly dead career, he went to the docks to look for his work.

With a days notice, he was given an opportunity to fight the number 2 ranked fighter in the world in the heavyweight division. For $250, win or lose, during the great depression, you’d fight a gorilla too. With the chance to be able to adequately feed his family for an extended period of time, he jumped in. Not only did he beat his foe, he knocked him out cold, and sent shockwaves through the boxing world.

Jim was the spirit of the nation, a walking symbol for America and overcoming adversity. The common man had his hopes and fears all tied into one person, and J. Braddock was the man to affirm all the good things America had waiting. After several more fights, Braddock was given a title shot against Max Bauer, who had previously killed two men in the ring. I’ll leave you to watch to see the outcome, but after Jim’s journey, win or lose, he was what America is about; rising from the ashes of a once torched spirit, and he served as the resurrection of all that embodies America – courage, hope, family, passion, commitment, perseverance, and faith.

Ron Howard's Cinderella Man will have even the manliest of men choking back a tear or two, and have you singing the praises of someone who despite our greatest efforts, you and I could only hope to be half the man he was. Howard's attention to detail and Crowe's humble acting serve to underscore the great man that Braddock was - the epitome of character and integrity. Renee Zellweger adds to Crowe's performance, bringing emotion, and a tough motherly exterior to the entire predicament. They epitomize the American family in the late twenty's, and give you a glimpse inside what it's like to be at your wits end - in a position to fight and scratch for everything you have, and to stay together.

Howard, Crowe, and Zellweger deliver in this humble tale of the American dream; rags to riches, nothing to everything. Make no mistake, the struggle is not lost in the film; if anything it's focused on. This film truly serves to underscore the American mentality of the underdog, and that anything is possible.