As a film, Cinderella Man is terribly weak, thoroughly sentimental and predictable.

| Feb 15, 2021

Giamatti gives a daring, bold performance that easily could have drifted into a cartoonish character.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 5, 2020

In a season where adult films are at a minimum, it is a breath of fresh air.

| Nov 18, 2019

Even Howard and Goldsman's penchant for being over-sentimental doesn't scupper the emotional punch Braddock's story packs. That's largely down to Crowe's utterly convincing performance.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 26, 2019

The complexities of genuine human beings have no place in a Ron Howard production. This is film where a good woman stands behind her man, children listen to their father, and the Great Depression is described as a bit of hard times.

| Aug 24, 2017

It ain't no Rocky, but it ain't half bad.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Mar 18, 2011

The final justification that Russell Crowe is without a doubt one of the best actors to come along in years.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Apr 29, 2009

A very solid cast, one of the most reliable directors in Hollywood, and one of the most malleable subjects in film make Cinderella Man one of the best films of 2005 thus far.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 27, 2009

Cinderella Man plays like a movie actively hunting for awards. But it's also a pretty darn good story.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 16, 2009

Howard's movie skillfully delivers that primal, heart-pounding satisfaction that is the promise of all boxing tales.

| Nov 1, 2007

As for the fights themselves, Howard brings nothing new to the canvas. Like the movie as a whole, they work fine enough, even while encased in leaden certitude.

| Aug 17, 2007

Cinderella Man is a contender, but it's not exactly a knockout.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 14, 2007

A cross between Seabiscuit (because of the Depression) and Rocky (because of the sport), yet a fine enough film to stand on its own, even if the production falls short of both in terms of its emotional punch.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 7, 2007

And as far as Cinderella's pumpkins go, though the movie ends with Braddock's boxing triumph in Hollywood's notorious freeze-frame approach to history, both Braddock and Baer went on to be decked by Joe Louis.

Full Review | Apr 19, 2007

As entertaining and uplifting a film as we'll get all year.

| Feb 22, 2007

At moments it almost had me, but for the most part I just felt cold and watched with all the interest of a disgruntled spectator.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 30, 2006

A fine alternative to the louder and more brainless summer movies competing with it -- an excellent drama that relies on heart and action instead of schmaltz and melodrama.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 22, 2006

The film wallows in the poverty and degradation of Crowe and his family, which is a real downer for a supposed feel-good movie . . .

Full Review | Jul 6, 2006

The fight scenes have a stinging authenticity and, although at 144 minutes it outstays its welcome, this is Howard's best film since Apollo 13

| Jun 24, 2006

Stirring and inspirational in the best and worst senses of these terms, this fact-based melodrama is stamped by the middlebrow sensibility of both director Ron Howard and writer Akiva Goldsman.

| Original Score: B+ | Jun 1, 2006