"Cinderella Man" DVD Review

"Cinderella Man" is an amazing movie. The performances are first-rate, the Depression is portrayed in an honest light, and the story's emotionally compelling. And here's something that separates "Cinderella Man" from the pack: it's a story we haven't seen a million times before.

You don't have to be a Russell Crowe fan to enjoy the film. In fact, you'll actually forget it's Crowe on the screen. That's how realistic a job "Cinderella Man" does in bringing the story of James J Braddock to life.

Directed by Ron Howard, "Cinderella Man" follows the true story of James J Braddock (Russell Crowe), a decent boxer who lost everything he managed to build up when the stock market crashed in 1929. Against immeasurable odds, Braddock did everything he could to keep his wife (Renee Zellweger) and children housed and fed during the Great Depression, eventually fighting his way into the spotlight and proving an average hard-working guy can become a national hero.

DVD Bonus Features

20 minutes of deleted scenes and well put together behind-the-scenes featurettes make up the extra features included on the "Cinderella Man" DVD. My personal favorite bonus feature is "The Fight Card," one of the best behind-the-scenes casting featurettes around. "Fight Card" follows Crowe's work to get the film made, including how he pursued his "A Beautiful Mind" director Ron Howard to helm the project. It also focuses on how the movie's cast came together and why each central player was so attracted to Braddock's story.

The additional featurettes are above average and provide viewers with background on the movie and on the real man whose story is told in the film.

Special Edition "Cinderella Man"

"Cinderella Man" is also being released as part of a special two-disc boxed set. The special edition box set includes an additional 2+ hours of bonus material. If you're willing to fork over a little more cash, you'll find the "Cinderella Man" extras included are definitely worth the extra money.