This film was so absorbing, so believable, with every moment and relationship depicted with a sense of truth, that I was motivated to go on Wikipedia to see how close it was to reality. I stopped the video at one point when Jim was having a heart to heart talk with his wife, stepping out to the sidewalk so the kids wouldn't overhear it. I went back to listen again to the distant sound of a dog barking, ever so faintly. Few were aware of this and you can't stop a film in a theatre, but this exemplified the multitude of touches that was everywhere.No throwaway scenes or conversations that didn't advance the characters and the story. In my research I noted that most everything was as is happened, all except this, which is the depiction of Max Baer, who he fought for the heavyweight title. It wasn't that they were just opponents, but beyond the inherent violence in boxing, he was depicted as egregiously vicious, gaining pleasure not just winning but destroying his opponents, on and off the ring. So, in reading about him, I discovered this was not the man at all. He courageously wore a Star of David on his trunks, since he was a quarter Jewish, as an personal statement to the Nazis in Germany and the America of that time. He did cause the death of two of his opponents, but suffered great emotional pain, and did what he could for the families. The turning of him into a caricature of evil personified, didn't even add to the quality of the film, as in retrospect he should have been depicted as the full human being, that was so well done for the rest of the cast. Max Baer has descendants who don't need to have their forebear defamed, for no reason at all.

Russel Crowe was astonishing and the movie had my stomach in knots as if I were watching it for real when he finally fought Max Baer.

If this movie could not get your heart pounding, i don't know what will.

I know most people consider Rocky the best film about box but I liked Cinderella man more because it's based on a true story so it gets much more involved with the main character. It's much more exciting seeing him win you want him to succeed and see his dream of coming back become true. Braddock's story is more moving because he wants to fight for his family to make them feel secure and never be hungry again. The performances are fantastic especially Russell Crowe and the actor who played his trainer. He is funny and you like him as much as Braddock because he also is doing this for his wife so you see him having a lot in common with James so his care for him is genuine not just coach and boxer but you see a real friendship between them.Rocky is not bad by any means but like I said this one is much better mainly due to being based on a true story