Critics Corner: Cinderella Man

First off, the fact that Jen and I are just now getting around to watching a movie that has been out for 2 years is a true testament to life with children. Anyway, we finally got around to watching Cinderella Man Friday night after putting the kiddos to bed. We only got about half way through the movie when we decided that we should call it a night. This was hard on me...as those of you who know me know that I can NOT stop watching any movie (even the crap on TBS)....they are all mind candy to me. But even my once great movie mojo has slowed as a result of the kiddos and the unrelenting knowledge that come 7am there will most likely be a flying seat bomb awaiting me.

As I was saying we stopped half way through the movie - about the point where he starts to turn a corner by winning the $250 fight. [I am assuming that by now everyone on the planet has seen this movie so I will not be spoiling anything for anyone.] The movie up to the half-way point had been stunning - and ...pardon the pun... quite depressing. The depiction of the great depression as seen through the eyes of a blue-collared hard working family was by far and away the most impressive part of the movie. The boxing simply provided a vehicle to tell this amazing story of the 30's. I actually left the halfway point in total awe of the magnitude of the strife overcome. The scene where their kid is terribly sick and they have no way to treat him...that crystallized it for myself (and I think Jen too). I can not imagine being put into that situation. I think JB handled it the same way most men would have...do what you have to to take care of your family....job 1.

So all day Saturday I was pondering the absolute magnitude of the great depression. Ultimately I don't think that most of us young pups will ever really know of such basic necessity or to feel the pain of fighting for basic survival...or at least I hope not anyway. But I do hope that the lesson of the great depression is not lost on any of us either (thus my passion for history). This type of empathy is fundamental to being a good Christian. Without understanding the possible depths of strife, it would be insurmountably more difficult for us to help others in the right frame of mind. Additionally, I think that the lessons of the great depression are essential to being a good person, a good mother/father and a good spouse. It strips your mind of the fuzzy clouds we all seem to get caught up in...it strips it all down to the bare essentials, the central core of need vs. want. At the end of the day there is no way that this movie does not in some manner make you a better person. Thus I highly recommend that you watch it (again).

Finally, we watched the second half of the movie on Saturday and it was thrilling to watch JB's comeback. The gravitational pull of his resurrection amongst the common/struggling man should all make us want to stand up and fight! While I found the second half entertaining...it really was the first half that cemented this movie in my all time top ten. Even if you detest boxing...this one is still worth watching.

I guess that means at some time I will also have to list my top ten movies...