Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cinderella Man (2005)

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-03-2005, 03:55 AM:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Posted by Tracy Bellar (Member # 3049) on 06-04-2005, 01:02 AM:

excellent movie. I think this is one of my favorite boxing movies. It really felt like you were seeing the time period of the early 30's portrayed with honesty.

Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 06-04-2005, 07:28 AM:

[thumbsup]

K.O.

Ron Howard knows how to tell a story. This movie never dragged or diverted. Let's see if another movie can match this by Oscar time.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 06-05-2005, 10:42 PM:

That is the highest rating I have ever seen Brad give, must be an awesome movie.

I did enjoy it very much. I didn't even see it as a "Boxing movie". Just a great story about people.

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 06-06-2005, 04:44 AM:

Max was awesome too. Really enjoyed the film.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 06-08-2005, 11:17 PM:

CINEMA: Cinemark Movies 12, Ames, IA
AUDITORIUM: 6
PRESENTATION: Mystery Meat Digital
PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: None [Smile]

RATING: Three and one half stars (out of four)

WARNING - "Bewitched" spoilers forthcoming

Cripes. Third week of release and they're still showing "Star Wars" on FIVE SCREENS.

I don't see why they're selling tickets from the snack bar tonight. The line is practically out the door, and there's two others staffing the snack part. But I appreciate the air conditioning. It's too early to be this hot and humid.

Immediately in front of me are two chubby pre-teenage girls wearing a whole lotta pink. The one on the right, who has a button on her pink headband that says "THIS BORES ME", is doing all the talking, and the subject is the "Bewitched" poster. "But on that show...that show...That 70's show...they talk about it all the time! Which show's better...'Bewitched', or...or...or...'I Dream...of Jeannie'."

She keeps talking until we get to the guy selling the tickets. I've been observing this guy. He sells the tickets, then tries to explain where the auditorium is, but he's disoriented. He is pointing in different directions with both hands and saying "Wait...that's not right...Yeah...go left, and then go right."

The pre-teen on the right is still talking when it's the girls' turn to buy tickets. She gets up to the counter. Then she turns forward and freezes. Just freezes. Ticket Guy is looking at her. I'm looking at her. Her friend is looking at her...until her friend finally shouts "THE TRAVELING PANTS MOVIE!" Then she starts telling the girl who froze about how she'll pay her back next week. Girl on the right comes to her senses and says "YOU don't have any MONEY?!?" Girl on the left: "I have fifteen dollars but it has to last until the weekend." Not that it mattered...Girl on the right pulls out a wad of bills as if she was some old lady fresh from a good night at the casino. She's still holding the money in her hand when she points at the candy in the display and says "M and M's..." before the guy interrupts her and says she has to get the snacks in the other line. That's what happened...She didn't freeze...She was hypnotized by the candy.

I'm all business. "One for Cinderella Man". I pay, and the guy starts trying to explain where Auditorium 6 is. "I know where it is," I say as he continues to explain. I can hear him STILL trying to explain it when I'm halfway up the ramp and long since out of view.

I noticed down towards Auditoriums 8-12 that there's two couples wandering around disoriented. I took on the voluntary role of Guest Services and showed them to their auditoriums.

Okay, so let me get this straight..."Bewitched" is a movie about actors making a movie version of "Bewitched"?!? It was bad enough knowing Will Ferrell was in it.

"Cinderella Man" is easily the best movie I've seen so far this year. I had a smile about a mile wide on the way out.

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 06-16-2005, 08:58 PM:

Outstanding movie!!!

The only problem I saw with it was making a hero out of this guy that realy was not. The truth he was an abusive drunk that should have never had the title. He did win it fairly but when he got it he held the damn thing for 2 years before finally fighting somebody who deserved to be in the ring and what happened Joe Lewis took the title from him!

Look I'm not trying to knock the movie or the performance. The acting and screen play were top notch and the in-ring cinematography was great. I just don't like the message that we're being shown that this guy was a hero and the ultimate family man.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-28-2005, 10:05 PM:

Excellent movie. Fine performances all around, especially Crowe and Zellweger, and great direction by Ron Howard. Oscar should definitely smile on this one...although it might be a tough go since Howard and Crowe already won for "A Beautiful Mind."

A friend of mine said the film wasn't exactly fair in its portrayal of Max Baer as a real "bad guy." Apparently after he killed one opponent, he gave generous support to the man's family.

But, it told a story and never had a dull moment.

4.5 out of 5 for me, as well.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 06-29-2005, 04:18 PM:

Great film. It's really a throwback to this kind of film that was sometimes done so well in the 40's and 50's. But why is such a well reviewed and good word-of-mouth film so underperforming at the BO?

My sales guy at Universal tells me the studio is reconsidering their video rollout of the title for a rerelease in 35 in the fall, leaving the DVD for Xmas. The picture deserves having a studio that recognizes its value and is willing to modify its video release schedule to allow more people to see it on the big screen and of course get some good distance before Oscar time!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-29-2005, 10:41 PM:

An "Oscar release" of this would definitely be a good idea. This is one of the many movies that to me would really "lose it" on the TV screen.

The other thing I like about it is, every single person who walks out is commenting "great movie." Even teenagers. You don't see that with films set in the 30s very often!

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 06-30-2005, 05:15 PM:

I did not like Renee's character very much. To be honest I don't think this particular role was good match for her.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-01-2005, 08:49 PM:

I thought it was great that she played against "type."

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 07-02-2005, 05:40 PM:

Today, 12:35PM, Cinemark 17 in Springfield, House #1, DTS Digital. Attendance about 10. No presentation-related problems with the feature -- looked like new, sounded great, not even a lab splice anywhere. [thumbsup]

This is an easy 4.5 out of 5, one of the best films of this or any year, tell your friends, deserves a wider audience, Oscar-worthy, yada yada. It's a sure thing for a re-release in the fall.

If a movie this good can't find an audience, the biz is in deep trouble. [uhoh]