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Cinderella Man
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Universal Pictures Review written by and copyright: David Cormack & Noor Razzak (2nd June 2009). |
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The Film
 For the marketing of the film there is a quote from a reviewer. Most movies you get out will have this. It's to provide some positive reinforcement for the film you are about to watch. This one is a bit different though. Instead of your "A superb film, Howard nailed every aspect" or "two thumbs up" this one quite simply says "One of the best movies ever" - Larry King. That's a fairly big call to make and upon scrutiny this film is not one of the best movies ever, it is pretty bloody good though. A rundown of the plot is necessary before I start praising and criticizing. James Braddock (Russell Crowe) was a boxer of some note in the late 1920's. After a successful run of fights he was given a title fight in his light heavy-weight division against Tommy Loughran. Braddock got owned over 15 rounds and with this loss his career went into freefall. Couple this with the stock market crash of 1929 and life was not going well. The movie picks up about here with Braddock struggling to get work on the docks as a laborer and his fighting career has continued to spiral down; so far so that the Boxing Commission revoke his license after one particularly uneventful fight. What follows is one man's search for redemption and a second chance. You always start at the standout point and in this one it's not what you might expect. In every scene that he's in Paul Giamatti completely steals the show. His performance as Joe Gould, Jimmy's manager is quite outstanding. He is almost comic relief but we are shown that he too is suffering from the depression when Mae (Renée Zellweger) goes over to his house and finds the furniture consists of a table and 3 chairs. If you are a devout Christian you may not appreciate Giamatti's performance because every second word out of his mouth is "Jesus Christ" or other such blasphemy but in terms of acting you cannot fault him. His character ranges from anxiety, hope, fear and sympathy for Jimmy's cause through to the raging ring-side manager when Jimmy's opponents commit the odd foul act whilst Jim remains virtuous. And that's the biggest problem in this film. Part of enjoying a film is identifying with one if not the main protagonist. Russell Crowe's Braddock is brilliantly portrayed but seems to be far too much of a decent guy. Where are his character flaws? Sure, I'm a nice guy also but I do have my flaws. As do we all, it's what makes us human. Braddock does not appear to have any. He's a loving husband and father, has an unbelievable work ethic, refuses to admit defeat and best of all keeps his promises to his kids. "A Beautiful Mind" (2001) suffered likewise, John Nash was a brilliant man sure and yes he had mental issues but the film didn't deal with his being arrested in 1954 for indecent exposure. It didn't deal with the accusations of his alleged homosexual experiences either. It's as though Ron Howard has been Richie Cunnigham'd into thinking that every American who's a lead in his film is right out of "Happy Days" (1974-1984). In almost what seems to be a lame attempt to balance this, Max Baer (Craig Bierko), Braddock's title fight opponent at the climax of the film, is portrayed as an absolute bastard with no redeeming features whatsoever. He's cocky, arrogant, swaggers, womanizes, yells at females, kills men in the ring and brags about it and embraces the playboy spirit just a little too much. As there is no way Braddock can be this good, Baer cannot be this bad. I've met some pricks in my time but they still have the odd good character trait. Just while I'm in the zone having a rant, Renée Zellweger's performance must be pointed out. How did she ever win an Oscar? I haven't seen "Cold Mountain" (2003) but if her performance in that is anything like the one in this film then she must've spent a lot of time on the casting couches of the Academy members! At no stage did I sympathies with her situation whatsoever, her character served as an annoying whiney tool rather than sympathetic mother. She also delivers the most trite line I've heard from a film ever - "You are the champion of my heart" delivered in the changing room prior to Braddock's title fight. So what was good with the film other than the acting performances (barring Zellweger)? The look and feel of the film was magnificent. The sepia tone color palate, the darkened imagery, it was all pitch perfect for a depression era film. From the scene where the Braddocks are forced to live by candlelight to the scenes of Jim working the docks, the darkened hue is brilliant. It really does suck one into the environment. The buildup is also well done. All boxing films have to suffer through the inevitable comparisons to "Rocky" (1976) but at no stage would 'Eye of the Tiger' have been appropriate to play as this film staked out its own identity. And lastly, it's a sports film. I have to admit a soft spot for any film that involves a healthy dose of sporting competition and this one doesn't fail in its "big hits delivered department" (no pun intended) and the finale is tense, yet fulfilling.
Video
Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 2.35:1, this high-definition widescreen transfer is presented in 1080p 24/fps and has been mastered in VC-1 compression. Universal has ported over the same transfer used on the previously released HD DVD edition. Overall the image is quite pleasing to watch, with a nice crisp image that shows off the warm golden hues of the film's photography especially well. The earth toned and slightly washed out aesthetic of the film is accurately represented here, the detail looks good and sharpness mostly holds up although there are some soft shots here and there. I also noticed some digital noise reduction (DNR) which is pointless in general and even more so on a recent film shot on modern film stocks, this makes some faces look waxy... thankfully this was kept to a minimum and I'm unsure if it was deliberate noise reduction or if it was automatically applied as part of the compression codec used on this transfer (it's reported that some codec apply minimal DNR to transfers). As far as an HD image goes, textures look good, blacks are solid and shadow detail is consistent.
Audio
Universal has released this title with three audio tracks which include an English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track mixed at 24-bit/48kHz as well as standard DTS 5.1 tracks in both French and Spanish. The DTS-HD audio here is a definite upgrade to the HD DVD's Digital-Plus track. The audio is incredibly impressive and displays massive depth and range from the subtle to aggressive. Dialogue is clear and distortion free, crowd sounds envelope viewers during the boxing scenes, the punches have a weigh to them as they hit each other in the ring. The film's score makes excellent use of the surround channels and ambient sounds add to the overall mix creating realistic environments. It's a powerful and well mixed audio track that can be considered reference quality. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired, French and Spanish.
Extras
Universal has released this film with a decent collection of extras all ported over from the 2-dosc 'Collector's Edition' DVD and also including a few new extras for this Blu-ray edition. There are no less than 3 audio commentaries, deleted scenes, fourteen featurettes, original boxing footage, a gallery, a photo montage and BD-Live features. Below is a closer look at these supplements. The first of the audio commentaries is with director Ron Howard in his somber can put anyone to sleep droll discusses various aspects of the production from the screenplay to cast and filming, as well as how to convey real life events on screen, the difficulties in shooting the fight footage, etc. Aside from the fact that his voice can put an ADHD kid to sleep, Howard provides a decent commentary with enough information to cover the film's duration that is both interesting and informative. The next audio commentary is with screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, Goldsman discusses more from a screenwriting point of view in this track, however also covers a lot of ground that Howard covered in the previous track. It's nice to hear about a film from the writer's perspective but at the risk of having a majority of your track made redundant by the previous, is it entirely worth it? The third and final audio commentary is with co-writer Cliff Hollingsworth. There's no point in repeating myself either so what stated about Goldsman's commentary also applies here. Next up is a selection of deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by director Ron Howard, when you select the section there is a 1 minute 20 second audio introduction by Howard before you can select any option. The commentary provided on each scene is very brief and to the point Howard sets the scene up and explains why it was cut, he occasionally provides trivia about each scene, there are many silent gaps, it would be nice for Howard to elaborate more on these scenes but the bare minimum is all we get. The scenes included on this disc are: - Scene One: this scene runs for 4 minutes 43 seconds and takes place near the front of the film, after Braddock has had his winning fight at Madison Square Garden (before the depression hit), here we get an extension where we meet Promoter Jimmy Johnston (Bruce McGill) much earlier than we do in the final cut, we also get additional dialogue with Joe and Jimmy as they leave in the cab. - Scene Two: runs for 1 minute 33 seconds, here we get an extension to the scene where laborers are being selected to work the docks, a frustrated man pulls a gun out because he doesn't get work. - Scene Three: runs for 2 minutes 45 seconds, after the fight at Mount Vernon where Jimmy breaks his hand, we get an extension after his license is revoked, Joe tends to Jimmy's hand and gives him advice that perhaps he should consider quitting altogether. - Scene Four: this scene runs for 3 minutes 46 seconds, Jimmy tries to convince Mae that he can still work with a broken hand, she helps him cover the cast with shoe polish. - Scene Five: runs for 3 minutes 8 seconds, here the Braddock family waits at the bread lines for soup and bread. - Scene Six: runs for 4 minutes 49 seconds, Jimmy sells his shoes at the gym for little money, later he reads FDR's inauguration speech from the paper over a montage of depression era images. - Scene Seven: runs for 2 minutes 28 seconds, extended moments, these are a series of cuts that show the depth of the depression. - Scene Eight: runs for 58 seconds, Jim walks past a job line of people desperate for work and then goes to Madison Square Garden. - Scene Nine: runs for 1 minute 41 seconds, Jim jokes around with Joe about fighting his mother, later that night Mae stays up worrying. The next day the kids go to the butcher and try to get a steak for their dad. - Scene Ten: runs for 1 minute 40 seconds, Jim and Joe in the locker room after his comeback fight and the press is let into the room to interview him. - Scene Eleven: runs for 3 minutes 26 seconds, the kids are excited their dad won as Jim teaches his boy how to punch and then surprise their dad with a steak. - Scene Twelve: runs for 49 seconds, Mae goes to visit Joe, this is the elevator ride in his apartment building. - Scene Thirteen: runs for 58 seconds, extended scene of Mae and Lucille having tea in the empty apartment as Mae talks about Jim fighting. - Scene Fourteen: runs for 37 seconds, autograph seekers crowd around Jim after a fight. - Scene Fifteen: runs for 1 minute 26 seconds, Jim goes to Central Park which has turned into a tent city looking for a friend. - Scene Sixteen: runs for 1 minute 19 seconds, extended footage for the pre-fight moments with Max Baer walking up to the ring to meet Jim. "The Fight Card: Casting 'Cinderella Man'" this featurette runs for 22 minutes 57 seconds, here the director, producer, writer and casting person all discuss the challenges of finding actors to play these roles, who they had in mind and how the cast came together. The cast also chime in about their roles and the complexities of playing real people, etc. They also discuss the film's tone and feel from a performance point of view. Overall an interesting piece that brings the viewer about the importance of strong casting. Following that is the "For The Record: A History In Boxing" featurette which, runs for 6 minutes 39 seconds. Here legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee recalls some boxing history as well as discusses his involvement in the film. However, the duration is mainly used to praise and compliment the filmmakers and Crowe, and other cast and crew praise Dundee. This featurette although briefly covers some boxing techniques and Crowe's training is basically a "pat-each-other's-back-a-thon" in disguise, luckily Dundee's forcefully funny personality is a highlight otherwise I would have fast forwarded this one. "Ringside Seats" is next, this featurette runs for 9 minutes 10 seconds and is basically a like a video commentary by director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and novelist Norman Mailer over Braddock's championship fight versus Max Baer. The group discuss his technique and other interesting boxing trivia throughout the rounds. "The Man, The Movie, The Legend: A Filmmaking Journey" is the next featurette that runs for 14 minutes 1 second and covers the man behind the story, the themes and resonating factors that make this film so interesting from the perspective of the director. "Jim Braddock: The Friends and Family Behind The Legend" is another featurette on this disc and runs for 11 minutes 11 seconds. The Braddock family tells us about their famous relative. The piece covers their involvement in the film's development and production. Jimmy's son Howard reminisces about his father and the hard times they had to endure, comments are also made about the film and how it reflects Braddock's life. The Family also makes sure to take time in praising the filmmakers for the great job they all did, etc, etc. "Pre-Fight Preperations" are a collection of four featurettes that run a total of 25 minutes 5 seconds and focus on specific aspects of the production, they can be viewed individually or with a 'play all' option and include: - "Focus On Script" runs for 8 minutes 21 seconds, this clip takes a look at the screenwriter's interest in boxing and on the Braddock story being inspiring and covers the development process of the script and the involvement of the cast and crew. - "Creating The Reality" runs for 7 minutes 39 seconds, this clip takes a closer look at the production design of the film. - "Russell's Transformation" runs for 5 minutes 27 seconds , this clip takes a closer look at the amazing transformation Crowe underwent to play this character and the intense training required. - "Inflatable People" runs for 3 minutes 46 seconds, this takes a look at how the massive crowds were created for the fight scenes. Next up is "Lights, Camera, Action: The Fight From Every Angle" a multi-angle feature that runs for 21 minutes 25 seconds and takes a look at the multiple camera set-ups used to create the fight scenes. This looks at the challenge of researching boxing footage and discover new ways to apply the intensity of the sport onto the screen. This is a very cool feature that delves into the shooting style of the film. "Russell Crowe's Personal Journey: Becoming Jim Braddock" featurette is next and runs for 27 minutes 49 seconds, this is an intimate and personal look at Crowe's involvement in the film and the journey of playing this character. This is probably my favorite extra on this disc as it takes you into the craft of acting and on trusting your director. It follows Crowe as he trains for the role back home in Australia, on becoming a fighter, the challenges and injuries he sustained among other things. Braddock vs. Baer Fight footage is actual archival footage runs for 31 minutes 58 seconds of the fight and provides a great reference to the film and how the fight was shot. Next up is "The Sound Of The Bell" featurette which runs for 6 minutes 21 seconds and is a look at the musical score for the film, the relationship with Howard and composer Thomas Newman and on hoe be brought something fresh and unique to the film's music as the director and composer talk about the collaboration on this film and what they wanted to achieve from the score. "'Cinderella Man' Music" featurette runs for 2 minutes 12 seconds and is a brief look at the recording process of the score and what music adds to the film, it's a cut down version of the previous featurette. "The Human Face Of Depression" is the final featurette which runs for 6 minutes, is a historical look back at the Depression and on Howard's interest in that period and being intrigued by the stories that came from that era. There's also a photo montage which runs for 3 minutes 11 seconds and features production photographs cut together into a reel. Next up is quite possibly the most shameful extra I've ever seen, it's called the "Kodak Cinderella Man" gallery, I expected a photo gallery but instead I got a 2 minutes 2 second commercial for Kodak, which used some images from the film in it's campaign. What's next, audio commentaries sponsored by Coca-Cola? There are a couple of Blu-ray exclusive extras such as BD-Live access for profile 2.0 only which provide access to the Universal online portal. You can also bookmark your favorite scenes using the "MyScenes" feature on the disc.
Packaging
Overall
Overall, it's a good film, it may even be a great film but it's not one of the best movies ever. Sorry Larry, you got it wrong. The Blu-ray disc presents the film with a decent image transfer and an engrossing surround experience, the extras will keep you busy fort a while, however there was some repetition and I'm tired of people spending their time telling us how great all the filmmakers are! The commentaries were a bit overkill, and could have been avoided by including one well produced track with all the participants.
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