Directed by: Ron Howard
Genres: Biography, Drama, Sport
Cast: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill, David Huband, Connor Price, Ariel Waller, Patrick Louis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Linda Kash, Nicholas Campbell, Gene Pyrz, Chuck Shamata
IMDB raintg: 8.0
My rating: 8.5 [rate 8.5]
When I rented this film I was worrying a bit that it will be a regular sport hero rise-fall-rise flick with a bunch of good special effects and close-ups that everyone liked. Ratings are somewhat abstract these days and should be trusted with care.
The film indeed turned out to be a sport hero rise-fall-rise story. And it did have a lot of expensive special effects. But for once it had something else too. It was an excellent personal drama. It really showed how the person falls and breaks and how he rises again. It showed that a strong personal spirit combined with the love and care for the close ones can get you very much futher than good luck and anything else. It showed desperation and it showed triumph. It showed a lot.
Russel Crowe performed excellently. Both his boxing sequences, which I hear from the trivia were rather harsh on him, and his drama parts. Renée Zellweger was very good too, although I usually try to avoid her in the movies.
The mix of intense sporting and personal drama was very good. I also like the soundtrack and how it was appearing and disappearing in the most appropriate places. Costumes and decorations were outstanding too, although I can’t judge on how factual they were. The atmosphere was delivered and it all that matters to me.
I would strongly recommend this film to any sport movie lovers as well as drama fans.