Part 1: The Story Famous boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crow) looks over his defeated opponent as fans cheer on another victory. This 2005 film produced by Brian Grazer and directed by Ron Howard tells the story of a dedicated man struggling to get by during the Great Depression. Cinderella Man begins on November 30, 1928, with a 2nd round knockout over Tuffy Griffith. Shortly after the fight, Braddock returns home to his spouse Mae Braddock (Renée Zellweger) with his winnings. As Braddock prepares for an easy night’s rest, the era transitions to four years later in urban New York City during the midst of the Great Depression. Braddock tries to continue his boxing career but fans soon become bored after he breaks his hand during a match and is unable to land hard punches. Still needing to find a way to feed his family Braddock tries to find job shifts at a dockyard, however, the odds of being chosen are already slim, and even more so for a man with a broken hand. With dwindling work, hungry children, no electricity and a child with a high fever, Mrs. Braddock has no choice but to send the kids to stay with family. Jobless Braddock is forced to get help from the Emergency Relief Administration and goes back to Madison Square Garden, humbling himself by asking old comrades for spare change to bring his kids back home. His luck turns, however, when his boxing manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) schedules a last minute fight for Jim to replace an injured fighter against Corn Griffin. It’s predicted that the fight is to be an easy knockout for Heavyweight Champion contender, Griffin, but Braddock makes a surprising comeback with a technical knockout in the 3rd round. Braddock is able to get more shifts at the dockyard with recognition of his upset. Meanwhile, Gould is able to talk the boxing commissioner into scheduling another fight for Braddock. Mrs. Braddock doesn’t agree with the potential danger of the brutal sport,
Part 1: The Story Famous boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crow) looks over his defeated opponent as fans cheer on another victory. This 2005 film produced by Brian Grazer and directed by Ron Howard tells the story of a dedicated man struggling to get by during the Great Depression. Cinderella Man begins on November 30, 1928, with a 2nd round knockout over Tuffy Griffith. Shortly after the fight, Braddock returns home to his spouse Mae Braddock (Renée Zellweger) with his winnings. As Braddock prepares for an easy night’s rest, the era transitions to four years later in urban New York City during the midst of the Great Depression. Braddock tries to continue his boxing career but fans soon become bored after he breaks his hand during a match and is unable to land hard punches. Still needing to find a way to feed his family Braddock tries to find job shifts at a dockyard, however, the odds of being chosen are already slim, and even more so for a man with a broken hand. With dwindling work, hungry children, no electricity and a child with a high fever, Mrs. Braddock has no choice but to send the kids to stay with family. Jobless Braddock is forced to get help from the Emergency Relief Administration and goes back to Madison Square Garden, humbling himself by asking old comrades for spare change to bring his kids back home. His luck turns, however, when his boxing manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) schedules a last minute fight for Jim to replace an injured fighter against Corn Griffin. It’s predicted that the fight is to be an easy knockout for Heavyweight Champion contender, Griffin, but Braddock makes a surprising comeback with a technical knockout in the 3rd round. Braddock is able to get more shifts at the dockyard with recognition of his upset. Meanwhile, Gould is able to talk the boxing commissioner into scheduling another fight for Braddock. Mrs. Braddock doesn’t agree with the potential danger of the brutal sport,