A 2005 historical sports drama directed by Ron Howard, “Cinderella Man” was widely respected by the critical press, but performed poorly at the box office. The film, inspired by the life of boxing champion James J. Braddock, stars Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. Braddock (Crowe), a former light heavyweight contender from New Jersey, gives up boxing after he breaks his right hand in the ring. As the Great Depression sweeps America of its economic stability, Braddock and his wife Mae (Zellweger) struggle to make ends meet. Joe Gould (Giamatti), Braddock's friend and former manager, offers him a chance to get back into the ring for just one night as a replacement boxer, Braddock agrees, much to the chagrin of his wife. Surprisingly, he wins the fight against a heavy favorite. Braddock stays in the ring against the wishes of his wife, winning one bout after another and paving his way to challenging the heavyweight champion – a terrifying, merciless mountain of a man called Max Baer, who had a reputation for seriously injuring, and even killing his opponents in the ring. The fight's promoter even makes Braddock and Gould watch footage of Baer's fights so they would know what they're going up against. Baer is disrespectful towards Braddock, and even tells Mae how he is going to kill her husband in the ring. Braddock is a heavy underdog and many believe he'll be lucky to get out of the ring alive, but he approaches the fight with no fear and, after withstanding a barrage of vicious blows he eventually wears Baer down and pulls off one of the biggest upsets in the boxing history.
Chris O'Dowd never returns borrowed designer suits
