Cinderella Man

When my daughter brought Cinderella Man home and told me to watch it, I accused her of trying to make me watch a “chick flick.” Hardly.

Cinderella Man is a drama for every man, especially in today’s difficult economic time. James Braddock refused to give in to the depression of the day. He held his family together through the Great Depression, insisting on making the best with what he had. He fought his way through hardships with no shame. Watch this clip and see who he’s thinking about when he’s getting the snot beat out of him:

There were several themes to the movie that appealed to me:

• Braddock needed to take government assistance to keep his family together. He saw it as shameful, and he surprised everyone when he voluntarily paid it back.
• Braddock insisted on keeping the family together, even when his wife disagreed.
• Braddock respected the wealthy, even when they appeared snobby or greedy. I loved when he disciplined his son for stealing food.
• Braddock honored his opponents and fought fair, even when they didn’t.
• Braddock loved his wife and his children, always making decisions with their interests in mind.

Not too long ago, I talked about this movie with someone. “That was a different time,” he said. That may be true, but it shouldn’t be an excuse. I like to think I fight on like James Braddock, and I like to think most men would fight the same.

Question: Did you see the movie? What did you like about it?