Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

The Great Depression plus a down-on-your-luck boxer should equal Oscar gold. However, the year that Cinderella Man should have been a contender was also the year when Crash swooped in to take the top prize from the odds-on favorite, Brokeback Mountain. It was also the same summer of Russell Crowe's infamous assault via hotel telephone.

Whether it was the tabloids or the talent, the film received few nominations. That meant no Best Picture nom and nothing for stars Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger or director Ron Howard. Only Paul Giamatti received a nomination (he lost to George Clooney). Still, an $88 million haul at the box office means that more than a few of you actually saw the movie, and those of you would know that it's really good.

After all, it's hard to hate the underdog, even if he seems almost too good to be true. Crowe plays James Braddock, a good man with a good heart, living in a not-so-good time period. It's the Great Depression and the guy just can't afford to feed his wife (Zellweger) and three kids. Despite tough times, he's all about keeping the family together, mostly through working the docks and the occasional prizefight. Thanks to a last-minute cancellation and a bit of pity from manager Joe Gould (Giamatti), the deteriorating Braddock made a surprising comeback and an interesting film topic. Of course, the whole 145-minute film comes to a head when Braddock is matched up against super-bruiser Max Baer (Craig Bierko). Baer supposedly got a bum rap in his portrayal, but the character makes for some fine film watching.

Cinderella Man has plenty of ups, downs and even a couple of cheezy lines ("You're the champion of my heart," Renée?). However, it doesn't matter, because those incidents are few and far between in this masterpiece.

Need another opinion? Check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of Cinderella Man.

The Picture

This 2.35:1 transfer is dark, just as the director intended. However, some of that darkness almost drowns out some of the film's detail, especially when looking towards the background. Blacks are deep, with various warm tones peeking through at times, nicely representing the film's topic and time period. However, like most sports movies, the action is where it's at. Those moments provide some of the best details, from the lines on Crowe's face to the sweat to the cigar ash.

The Sound

Apparently, Depression-era people are not that loud. Maybe it's the lack of eating. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track does a nice job of delivering all of the low talking in this movie. However, like pretty much every sports movie ever made, the action is where the audio comes to life. Every bout in the entire film will fill your speakers with a bevy of sounds, from the bell to the blows to the sounds of the crowd. It's really a treat.

The Extras

If the film's 145-minute runtime wasn't enough, there's almost four hours worth of bonus materials, and that doesn't count the three optional feature commentaries. If you're looking for the angry Russell Crowe, he won't be found here. However, what you will discover is a boatload of information about the production, from casting (Renée had always wanted to play Mae?) to choreography to the score. Two must-see shorts include the too-brief (11 minutes) piece on the real Jim Braddock, which includes a peek at his son and grandkids, as well as 32 minutes of black-and-white footage from the real Braddock/Baer fight.

Final Thoughts

It's hard to hate on a movie that gives you hope. It helps that Cinderella Man captivates from beginning to end. Also, can Ron Howard do wrong? Grinch-iness aside, the guy took a footnote in sports history and cranked out a one-two punch of great acting and directing. The video could have been slightly better, but don't let that deter you from adding this great film to your Blu-ray collection.

Where to Buy:

• Cinderella Man on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Bruce McGill, Paddy Considine
• Director: Ron Howard
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), DTS 5.1 (Spanish, French)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13
• Studio: Universal Pictures
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: May 26, 2009
• Run Time: 145 minutes
• List Price: $29.98
• Extras:
• Feature Commentary with Director Ron Howard
• Feature Commentary with Co-Writer Akiva Goldsman
• Feature Commentary with Co-Writer Cliff Hollingsworth
• Deleted Scenes with Option Commentary by Director Ron Howard
• The Fight Cord: Casting Cinderella Man
• For the Record: A History in Boxing
• Ringside Seats
• The Man, The Movie, The Legend: A Filmmaking Journey
• Jim Braddock: The Friends & Family Behind the Legend
• Pre-Fight Preparation
• Lights, Camera, Action: The Fight from Every Angle
• Russell Crowe's Personal Journey: Becoming Jim Braddock
• Braddock vs. Baer Fight Footage
• The Sound of the Bell
• Cinderella Man Music Featurette
• The Human Face of the Depression
• Photo Montage
• Kodak Cinderella Man Gallery
• BD Live