The biographical movie Cinderella Man which told the unbelievable rags-to-riches story of heavyweight, Depression-era champion Jim Braddock was released, directed by AcademyAward winning director Ron Howard.

 

With a screenplay by A Beautiful Mind‘s Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, as well as Cliff Hollingsworth (and based on his story), and a score by Thomas Newman, the film starred two more Oscar winners, Russell Crowe as Braddock and Renée Zellweger as his wife, Mae. Paul Giamatti also starred and was later the only one actor recognized for an Oscar nomination for the year 2005 (Cinderella Man was also nominated for best film editing and best makeup).

The film featured Craig Bierko as Max Baer, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill and Ron Canada.

The great Angelo Dundee, the trainer of boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard as well as champions including George Foreman and Jimmy Ellis, was hired to train Russell Crowe in the ways of boxing. 

Universal Studios released it domestically where it saw a North American box office gross of $61.6 million and a worldwide gross of a little over $108 million. 

Cinderella Man was critically acclaimed, currently holding 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. The original screenplay was nominated for a BAFTA. Crowe, Giamatti, director Howard and the film were nominated for the Critics’ Choice, with Giamatti winning in the best supporting category.Crowe and Giamatti’s acting was recognized by being nominated for the Golden Globe’s performances in a dramatic movie. Both were again nominated at the Screen Actors Guild, with Giamatti winning best supporting actor.