Cinderella Man

• Russell Crowe: Jim Braddock
• Renée Zellweger: Mae Braddock
• Paul Giamatti: Joe Gould
• Paddy Considine: Mike Wilson
• Bruce McGill: Jimmy Johnston
• David Huband: Ford Bond
• Ron Canada: Joe Jeanette

The comeback is a feature film directed by Ron Howard and based on the true story of boxer Jim Braddock, who was wearing a boxer before the great economic depression of the nickname " The Bulldog of Bergen " and " Pride of the Irish ", in the wake of his sensational comeback in 1933 -1935 of the press, however, the name Cinderella Man received.

Action

During the world economic crisis of the late 1920s boxer Jim Braddock the boxing federation and will be excluded from the boxes have to give up. Thus he ends up in a financial quagmire, forcing him to accept hopeless work of any kind to keep his wife Mae and their children about water.

By happy coincidence, Braddock gets one day the chance to step into the ring. To everyone's surprise, he won the fight.

Although his hands are wounded, Jim gains even more fights and rises as a hero on and hope for the battered by the economic crisis workers. Finally, he succeeds even to defeat the reigning world heavyweight champion, Max Baer.

Criticism

• Filmdienst 18/2005: The film is more a sentimental family drama than the realistic questioning an individual and social crisis. Morally inevitable and dramatic überraschungslos, he captivates primarily through its outstanding lead actor.
• " The Comeback " keeps sent the balance between sports and drama and puts some emphasis on Braddock's primary goal and purpose in life: to protect and to keep his wife and children. But he is fighting in the ring, that's his motivation. How come neither to the last detail perfectly staged, hard Boxszenen too short, nor the interpersonal relationships in all its facets. " Filmreporter.de

The film was particularly heavily criticized in the U.S. for the representation of the former world heavyweight champion Max Baer. So Baer is for the script at the expense of historical authenticity to an over boxer who is defeated by minnows Jim Braddock. Dramatically served the overdrawing of Baer's combative superiority to illustrate the eminent risk to life and limb, which the outsider Braddock was suspended by the struggle with a very strong opponent in the term.

Fact, however, Baer fought during the Great Depression after numerous defeats laboriously up and was not even the towering fighter, as he is portrayed in the film. Such a dominant figure should only boxing legend Joe Louis are, which Max Baer struck out three months after the fight against Braddock in the 4th round KO and Jim Braddock in 1937 the heavyweight title - by KO in the 8th - decreased.

The depiction of Baer's character is oversubscribed negative in some places. Not addressed in the film, for example, that Baer ( Frankie Campbell) in the ring suffered greatly under the unfortunate murder of one of his opponents. The incident was a major break in Baer's career, from which he athletic and mentally recovered only slowly and with generous donations made ​​by the children of the deceased by the college.

The film clings to the religio-political background of largely. Baer fought against Braddock with a clearly visible, embroidered on the pants Star of David, which he had first worn in a previous fight against Max Schmeling to his solidarity with the Jewish people and faith (his father was Jewish, he did not ) and at the same time to express his fight against the Nazi regime of Hitler. The Star of David is only briefly visible in the film.

Also in terms of Braddock's manager Joe Gould the topic of Jewish religious and ethnic affiliation is excluded.

Representation of other boxers

Corn Griffin is represented as emerging heavyweights "on the way to the top " for the Braddock is merely a structure opponents. Corn Griffin at that time had a record of 20 wins (9 KO), 6 losses (3 KO ) and 1 draw and was even gone in his last six fights twice KO. (Counter Buck Everett in the 6th and against Bob Godwin in the 4th ) Griffin finished his career in 1936 with a record of 21 wins (9 KO ), 17 Losses (10 KO ) and 1 draw.

Background

• Russell Crowe learned the basics of boxing at an expert for the boxing style of the 20s to the 50s, the sport of boxing is very different from today. He also analyzed the original recordings of the struggles of Braddock and other contemporary boxers. Ron Howard commented that Crowe had meticulously studied the boxes so that he completed after filming sparring fights and sandbag exercises. Crowe, however, even said that with completion of the project the active exercise of the sport of boxing were concluded.
• The official novel of the same name for the film was written by Marc Cerasini and Ralf Schmitz and was released in August 2005 at the Egmont Ehapa.

Awards

At the award ceremony of the Golden Globe, which took place on 16 January 2006, Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti were nominated as the best performer. At the 78th Academy Awards, which took place on March 5, 2006 the film was nominated in three categories but went, as before at the Golden Globes, empty out.

Golden Globe 2006

Nominated in the categories

• Best Actor - Drama ( Russell Crowe )
• Best Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti )

Oscar 2006

Nominated in the categories

• Best Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti )
• Best Editing
• Best MakeUp