“Cinderella Man,” theater, July 17, 2005. Traditional and very effective boxing film from Ron Howard that shows the life and travail of James J Braddock, heavyweight champion of the world. It is a fundamentally conservative film starring Russell Crowe that ‘rejects’ collective action by workers. It also is a well made and good film that works on its own terms, pitting the gallant Braddock against the vicious pit bull of a Maxie Baer, a man who, according to the film, killed for pleasure. The Irish vs Jewish component of the thing in the popular mind/press is washed out entirely, especially since Braddock’s manager and financial angel, the man who risked all to revive his career, is also Jewish. Played with spectacular wonderful verve by Paul Giamatti, he outshines the rest of the cast. Renee Zellwenger plays Braddock’s lovely supportive wife but she’s mostly a set piece. The depression is powerfully portrayed and it’s good for people to see what could happen again. As I said, a powerful if conservative film that acknowledges reality but twists history for its own purposes