The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, following his retirement in the 1930s, makes a surprise comeback in order to lift his family out of poverty.
Acting
Crowe's quiet desperation; Giamatti steals every scene.
Direction
Ron Howard at his most restrained and effective.
Production
Soup lines and shantytowns look devastatingly real.
Director
Ron Howard
Russell Crowe
Jim Braddock
Renée Zellweger
Mae Braddock
Paul Giamatti
Joe Gould
Craig Bierko
Max Baer
Paddy Considine
Mike Wilson
Bruce McGill
Jimmy Johnston
David Huband
Ford Bond
Connor Price
Jay Braddock
Ariel Waller
Rosemarie Braddock
Patrick Louis
Howard Braddock
Rosemarie DeWitt
Sara
Linda Kash
Lucille Gould
Nicholas Campbell
Sporty Lewis
Gene Pyrz
Jake
Chuck Shamata
Father Rorick
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Braddock's grandson plays the referee in the final fight. Ron Howard loves this stuff.
Braddock actually did return all his welfare money once he got back on his feet—this wasn't Hollywood invention, and it became a Roosevelt-era talking point.
US
