The first great movie of the summer is here. Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti and directed by Ron Howard, is a wonderful and thrilling movie. Oh, I know, another boxing movie, well don't think that, this movie is a hit (pun intended).

It tell the story of James J. Braddock who was a mediocre boxer and then lost everything during the depression, including his right to box. He was a wash up and fought to provide for his family. Then when another fighter was unable to fight and they needed someone legit who could fight on short notice, Braddock is the one they turned to. No one expected him to last one round let alone win the fight. Win he did and then he went on to fight the world heavyweight champion at the age of 30 and win that fight as well. Ron Howard is a wonderful director and the editing on the film is terrific, one of the best edited movies I've seen in a while. Of course, Crowe, Zellweger, and Giamatti give great performances and I'm so envious of Zellweger as she gets to cuddle, kiss and canoodle with Crowe (hubba hubba). I'll be very surprised if this film doesn't come away with some major Oscar noms. I'm hoping that this movie does not get lost in the summer shuffle. I am a bit surprised that this wasn't released in the fall.

Jaw dropper of the day: Talk about role playing......Authorities "freed" a Berlin man who was stuffed in the trunk of a car. A concerned citizen called police and told them she saw someone being locked in the trunk of a car. However, when police opened the trunk they saw a man with just a leather throng and a collar. That's all that he was wearing. The mistress was driving and the guy in the trunk was the slave. Officers insisted the man sit in the front of the car and sent the couple on their way. No doubt to another bout of role playing somewhere else.

More later,

paul