Cinema - Cinderella Man (12A)

From the archive, first published Wednesday 28th Sep 2005.

IF my avid movie going has taught me nothing else it is that Renee Zellwegger uses just one facial expression to depict the vast spectrum of human emotion.

When she first hit our screens in Jerry Maguire she looked rather cute as she pressed her pouty lips together at Tom Cruise.

In Bridget Jones, it was acceptable because she was usually pressing her lips in the direction of Colin Firth, while in Cold Mountain, the expression confirmed that it was, well, cold.

But in Cinderella Man, this exhausted expression was the difference between me awarding it four instead of five stars.

Call me a nitpicker but I felt this wonderful and emotional film was spoilt by such a routine performance from Zellwegger.

Cinderella Man tells the little-known true story of boxer James J Braddock (Russell Crowe) during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

An unbeaten champion, he hits hard times when the stock market crashes and he breaks his hand.

Braddock and his family including wife (Zellwegger) and three children are plunged into poverty for many years until he is offered $200 for a one-off fight.

Cue an unforgettable comeback, which will have viewers choking back the tears.

Crowe is excellent as ever, providing a multi-facetted Braddock - and also proving he as adept at fighting on screen as he is off.

It's just a shame that he had to share the screen with such a one-trick pony.

EB

Archive Home