Cinderella Man

Set in New York during the Depression, this is the story of James Braddock (Crowe), who takes up boxing to make money to feed his family, and ends up becoming quite famous in the process, eventually going up against champ Max Baer.

Fact-based story of depression era boxing champ James J. Braddock. The film opens with Braddock winning a fight in 1928 and becoming a contender for a championship bout. The film then quickly jumps five years into the future. The depression is on and Braddock has had a series of defeats. Fighting injured, including with a broken hand, made him less of a fighter. Braddock, like many others in that era, lost everything in the stock market and scrimping by on the small fights he can get and on dock work. His wife would prefer he quit boxing, but knows how badly they need the money to get by with their three kids. Watering down milk just to make it do for several more days is a common occurrence. When his trainer manages to get him one more fight on the spur of the moment against the current #2 contender, Braddock rises to the occasion and knocks him out. His amazing comeback becomes the source of inspiration of many down-on-their-luck Americans. A series of fights later leads to the championship match against the arrogant champ, Max Baer. Baer, who had already killed two men in the ring, urges the older Braddock not to fight him. Of course, Braddock feels he has nothing more to lose and very devastating, intense fight ensues. Contains very brutal boxing violence.

AWARDS:

- Academy Awards, USA

2006 Nominated "Oscar"

Best Achievement in Editing: Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

Best Achievement in Makeup: David LeRoy Anderson, Lance Anderson

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Paul Giamatti

- Australian Film Institute

2005 Won "International Award"

Best Actor: Russell Crowe

- Awards of the Japanese Academy

2006 Nominated "Award of the Japanese Academy"

Best Foreign Film

- BAFTA Awards

2006 Nominated "BAFTA Film Award"

Best Screenplay - Original: Cliff Hollingsworth, Akiva Goldsman

- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

2005 Won "BSFC Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won "Critics Choice Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

2006 Nominated "Critics Choice Award"

Best Actor: Russell Crowe

Best Director: Ron Howard

Best Picture

- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Nominated "CFCA Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- ESPY Awards

2005 Nominated "ESPY"

Best Sports Movie

- Empire Awards, UK

2006 Nominated "Empire Award"

Best Actress: Renee Zellweger

Best Director: Ron Howard

- Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2005 Won "FFCC Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- Golden Globes, USA

2006 Nominated "Golden Globe"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Russell Crowe

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Paul Giamatti

- Golden Trailer Awards

2005 Nominated "Golden Trailer"

Summer 2005 Blockbuster

- Hochi Film Awards

2005 Won "Hochi Film Award"

Best Foreign Language Film: Ron Howard

- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

2006 Nominated "Silver Ribbon"

Best Director - Foreign Film (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero): Ron Howard

- Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2006 Won "KCFCC Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- London Critics Circle Film Awards

2006 Nominated "ALFS Award"

British Supporting Actor of the Year: Paddy Considine

- Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA

2006 Nominated "Golden Reel Award"

Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement: Anthony J. Ciccolini III (supervising sound editor), Deborah Wallach (supervising adr editor), Stan Bochner (dialogue editor), Dan Korintus (dialogue editor), Kenna Doeringer (adr editor)

- Online Film Critics Society Awards

2006 Nominated "OFCS Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2005 Won "PFCS Award"

Best Picture

- Sant Jordi Awards

2006 Won "Sant Jordi"

Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): Paul Giamatti, Also for Sideways (2004) and American Splendor (2003).

- Satellite Awards

2005 Nominated "Satellite Award"

Outstanding Motion Picture, Drama

Outstanding Overall DVD: (Widescreen Collector's Edition).

- Screen Actors Guild Awards

2006 Won "Actor"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Paul Giamatti

2006 Nominated "Actor"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Russell Crowe

- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2005 Won "SEFCA Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

- Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

2005 Won "TFCA Award"

Best Supporting Performance, Male: Paul Giamatti

- Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

2005 Won "WAFCA Award"

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti

2005 Nominated "WAFCA Award"

Best Director: Ron Howard

- Writers Guild of America, USA

2006 Nominated "WGA Award (Screen)"

Best Original Screenplay: Cliff Hollingsworth (screenplay/story), Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)

- Young Artist Awards

2006 Nominated "Young Artist Award"

Best Family Feature Film - Drama