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Imagine Entertainment
Miramax
Universal Pictures
Not part of a collection.
One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved.
The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, following his retirement in the 1930s, makes a surprise comeback in order to lift his family out of poverty.
CinemaSerf
Feb 21, 2025 · via TMDB
Once Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) breaks his hand in a fight, he discovers that his previously reasonably successful life in the ring has come to an end - and that puts him, wife “Mae” (Renée Zellweger) and their kids on skid row. He’s gone from making $8,000 from a fight to ferreting around the docks looking for work and taking state welfare funds so they can keep their children in their now electricity-free apartment. Then serendipity takes an hand as his former manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) arranges a last-minute fight for him that might garner a meagre $250. It’s not a fight he’s expected to fare well in, but against the odds he triumphs and that enables Gould to engage with his former backer Jimmy Johnston (Bruce McGill) and that could, ultimately, lead to a world title tight fight against Max Baer (Craig Bierko). It’s a pretty savage indictment of urban American life in the 1930s and it also serves well at illustrating just how boxing so often proved the most appealing and available conduit for many an uneducated man to escape the poverty trap that would embrace not just him but his family, too. As to Braddock, his story also involves his close friend “Mike” (Paddy Considine) who embarks on a similar career path, only he has neither the skill nor the sense to make it work. For that, Braddock is especially fortunate to have Gould in his corner, a man who is less venal than many who would hire and fire at the drop of an hat. It’s the boxing action that really works well here, though, with Crowe putting heart and soul into a character that is designed to demonstrate fortitude and determination, sure, but also humanity and humility too. Giamatti steals the scenes, but Zellweger also contributes well as Ron Howard presents us with a poignant, violent and plausible story of a man motivated by family and friends who epitomised his own version of the pioneering spirit.
Peter McGinn
May 21, 2021 · via TMDB
This is a fine boxing movie, one that relies more on the fighter’s personal story than endless scenes of boxing brutality. James Braddock’s final rise to the championship was an inspirational example during the lull in between the headline-grabbing reigns of Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis, when the heavyweight title changed hands several times. My only complaint with Ron Howard’s film was its portrayal of Max Baer, the champion Braddock defeated to win the title. For dramatic purposes, they changed his personality and made him into a bullying, vicious person, to the point of making a crude comment about Braddock’s wife. They needed a bad guy so they made one. I became interested in Max Baer when I was a teen and read a lot about him over the decades. He was fierce when he meant business in the ring, but mostly he was happy go liucky and didn’t love the fight game. As a side note, Max Baer’s son was also upset at seeing this man he didn’t recognize as his father (this was Max Baer Jr., Jethro Bodean from the Beverly Hillbillies). But what can you do — making changes is standard procedure for movies based on real events. They are often still worth watching. Just don’t use them for research for a school project, right?
Andres Gomez
Mar 21, 2016 · via TMDB
The stereotypical sports movie about a character which goes from glory to hell and back to the glory again. The story is OK, but nothing new. Crowe performs well, but it is not one of his best movies. Giamatti is great, as always but Zellwegger is too cheesy in her role. Just an entertaining movie without any more intentions.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Russell Crowe
Jim Braddock
Renée Zellweger
Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti
Joe Gould
Craig Bierko
Max Baer
Paddy Considine
Mike Wilson
Bruce McGill
Jimmy Johnston
David Huband
Ford Bond
Connor Price
Jay Braddock
Ariel Waller
Rosemarie Braddock
Patrick Louis
Howard Braddock
Rosemarie DeWitt
Sara
Linda Kash
Lucille Gould
Nicholas Campbell
Sporty Lewis
Gene Pyrz
Jake
Chuck Shamata
Father Rorick
Ron Canada
Joe Jeanette
Alicia Johnston
Alice
Art Binkowski
Corn Griffin
Matthew G. Taylor
Primo Carnera
Rance Howard
Announcer Al Fazin
James Ritz
Official (Griffin / Baer Fight)
Fulvio Cecere
Referee McAvoy
Clint Howard
Referee
Ken James
Ancil Hoffman
Rufus Crawford
Lewis Coach
Angelo Dundee
Angelo the Cornerman
Wayne Gordon
Braddock Cornerman
Nick Alachiotis
Baer Cornerman / Undercard Boxer (Feldman)
Wayne Bourque
Griffin Cornerman
Paul Ryan
Griffin Cornerman
Stuart Clark
Frankie Campbell
Julian Lewis
Undercard Boxer (Feldman)
Sergio Di Zio
Young Reporter
Boyd Banks
Reporter
Daniel Kash
Reporter
Judah Katz
Reporter
Angelo Tsarouchas
Reporter
Craig Warnock
1928 Fan
Aaron Abrams
1928 Fan
Duff MacDonald
1935 Fan
Gerry Quigley
Quincy
Peter MacNeill
Electric Man
John Healy
Dock Worker
James Kirchner
Dock Worker
Magdalena Alexander
Angry Woman
Nola Augustson
Relief Office Woman
Mark Taylor
George
Sharron Matthews
Lady
Isabella Fink
Church Girl
Beau Starr
Sam
Philip Craig
Radio Commentator
Roman Podhora
Hooverville Cop
R.D. Reid
Hooverville Cop
Michael Dyson
Hooverville Man
Sam Malkin
Gibson
Tony Munch
Sam Penny
Conrad Bergschneider
Limo Driver
Richard Binsley
Announcer (Griffith)
Ramona Pringle
Flapper Girl
Dominic Cuzzocrea
Junket
Neil Foster
Security Guard
Brian Jagersky
Cop
Wynn Thomas
Production Design
Salvatore Totino
Director of Photography
Daniel Orlandi
Costume Design
Steve Lucescu
Stunt Coordinator
Bryan Renfro
Stunts
Duncan McLeod
Stunts
Edward A. Queffelec
Stunts
Egerton Marcus
Stunts
James Binkley
Stunts
Joel Harris
Stunts
John Stead
Stunts
Kevin Rushton
Stunts
Mark Taylor
Stunts
Nick Alachiotis
Stunts
Paul Rutledge
Stunts
Robert Racki
Stunts
Shawn C. Orr
Stunts
Stephannie Hawkins
Stunts
Stuart Clark
Stunts
Jonnie Katz
Assistant Director
Ron Howard
Director
Janet Hirshenson
Casting
Michelle Lewitt
Casting Associate
Jim Whitaker
Co-Executive Producer
Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer
Brian Grazer
Producer
Penny Marshall
Producer
Ron Howard
Producer
Thomas Newman
Original Music Composer
Akiva Goldsman
Screenplay
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Coach Carter
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Serpico
Sunset Park
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The Right Stuff
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
DIVE
To My Unborn Son
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North Country
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The Street Player
Brian's Song
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Father Stu
Sea of Time
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Amazing Grace
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Reds
Colette
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Carla's Song
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Owning Mahowny
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My Boy Jack
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2020
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1965
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1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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