Cinderella Man

DVD Features:

Audio:

• Dolby Digital Surround Sound Plus 5.1 - English, French, Spanish
• Subtitles - English SDH, French, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

• Commentaries - 1. Ron Howard - Director
                         2. Akiva Goldsman - Screenwriter
                         3. Cliff Hollingsworth - Screenwriter
                         4. Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Ron Howard
• Featurettes - 1. "Pre-Fight Preparations"
                     2. "Lights, Camera, Action: The Fight From Every Angle"
                     3. "Braddock vs. Baer Fight Footage"
                     4. "The Sound of the Bell"
                     5. "Cinderella Man Music Featurette"
                     6. "Russell Crowe's Personal Journey: Becoming Jim Braddock"
                     7. "The Fight Card: Casting CINDERELLA MAN"
                     8. "The Man, The Movie, The Legend: A Filmmaking Journey"
                     9. "For the Record: A History in Boxing"
                     10. "Ringside Seats"
                     11. "Jim Braddock: The Friends & Family Behind the Legend"
                     12. "The Human Face of Depression"

Text/Photo Galleries:

• Photo Montage

Product Description:

Director Ron Howard and star Russell Crowe re-team after their Oscar-winning collaboration, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, for this rousing biopic. It's the true story of boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), a heavyweight contender from New Jersey nicknamed "the Bulldog of Bergen," who lost his fame and fortune during the Great Depression only to win the hearts of the downtrodden during a spectacular comeback. Crowe is masterful as Braddock, with Renee Zellweger playing his wife, and Paul Giamatti as his loyal friend and manager, Joe Gould. The sharply observed script devotes a significant amount of screen time to the domestic struggles of Braddock's family; developing character and place with a wealth of period detail, so when the comeback starts, the payoff is enormous. The matches themselves are unforgettable: raw, intense, riveting, with more than a passing stylistic nod to Martin Scorsese's groundbreaking 1980 film, RAGING BULL. Though it may sound a bit formulaic, one should remember that this is the true and "original" underdog boxer story from which all others hail, and it's riveted together with true craftsmanship. Howard has a real skill for plucking audience members' heartstrings, and the performances are first-rate. Giamatti and Crowe play off each other in a rapport perfectly suited to their roles, especially at the ring, where the one's manic intensity makes a perfect contrast to the other's warrior grace.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Champions | Family Life | Theatrical Release

Production Notes:

• Theatrical Release: June 3, 2005

Cast and Crew: