Below The Beltway

I believe in the free speech that liberals used to believe in, the economic freedom that conservatives used to believe in, and the personal freedom that America used to believe in.

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Learning Something New

by Doug Mataconis @ 9:46 am on January 2, 2006.

Yesterday afternoon, Kellie and I sat down to watch Cinderella Man, the Oscar nominated film by Ron Howard that tells the story of Depression-Era boxer James Braddock, who lost everything he had in the Great Depression, went on public assistance to keep his family together, and staged an unlikely comeback that led to him becoming the Heavyweight Champion from 1935 until 1937, when he lost the title to Joe Louis, the only man to ever knock him out.

I had wanted to see this movie when it came out in the summer, but, like a few other movies, it left the theater before I had a chance to see it. I am glad I had the chance now, because it was, without question, one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. The story itself is reminiscent of Rocky; the difference being that the story of James Braddock actually happened.

I have never been much of a boxing fan and my knowledge of heavyweight boxing in the 1930s was limited to Joe Louis beating Max Schmelling. Kudos to Ron Howard for bringing this truly inspiring story to the screen so everyone can know what kind of man James Braddock was. And, if you’re looking for a good movie to watch, I can’t think of anything better to recommend right now.