Review

Demonstrating a maturity and command that even surpasses his excellent work in Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, director Howard has crafted a third true-life tale, his "biographical trilogy," if you will, and the result is nothing short of extraordinary. In reuniting with Crowe, the star of the Oscar-winning Beautiful Mind, both director and actor have risen to the challenge of an emotionally and physically demanding story -- neither has ever been this effective on-screen before. In the 1920s, boxer James J. Braddock (Crowe) was enjoying a level of success in the ring that afforded him and his family a comfortable lifestyle. After the stock market crash in 1929, he lost it all and, like 15 million other Americans, he and his family were living in desperate poverty. With his boxing license now revoked, Braddock is barely able to pay the household bills from the infrequent dock work available. After a humiliating visit with hat in hand to former colleagues (a heartwrenching, powerfully underplayed scene that speaks volumes of its working-class main character), Braddock is given one unlikely chance to return to the ring. In telling this underdog story, Howard deftly divides screen time between Braddock's matches, which are superbly photographed and edited (with a minimum of flash), and his home life, where this proud husband and father feels the pain of not being able to support his loved ones. Crowe is magnificent in conveying the anguish, devotion and determination of this family man, shading an Everyman who becomes a symbol to the nation with vulnerability and idealism. Among the terrific cast, Zellweger is splendid as the wife who must watch her family endure the harsh realities of the Depression, an award-caliber Giamatti as Braddock's manager, Bierko as champion fighter Max Baer, and McGill as a promoter looking after the bottom line.

 -- David Bleiler