Classic: Cinderella Man (2005)

Inspired by the true life story of James Braddock aka The Cinderella Man, this movie is extra-ordinary to say the least. The human emotions, the struggles during the Great Depression, the subsequent rags to riches story and some of the most brutal boxing fights shown on the cinema screen make this Ron Howard movie a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Russell Crowe teams up with Ron Howard for another classic after 'A Beautiful Mind'. That both these movies are inspired by true life heroes, is more than a mere coincidence. He is top class to say the least. His talents need no further explanation. Another milestone for the Australian superstar

There are solid support roles for Renee Zellweger as the wife of James, Paul Giamatti as the manager/ringside coach of James and Paddy Considine as James' friend at the dock

Some of the dialogs induce goose-bumps particularly, the dialog that Mae tells James before the final bout. For more such dialogs check this out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352248/quotes

The fights are all real, particularly the Lasky fight and the final Baer fight. Such intensity and such detailing that they suck you into them. The final bout gives you the same feeling as watching a Federer-Nadal grand-slam final.

More than the fights, it's the human interest element that makes this movie a classic, be it the relationship between the father and his 3 young kids or the lovely mature husband-wife relationship or the entire community looking up to the Bulldog of Bergen / The Pride of New Jersey for hope and courage during the Great Depression.

VERDICT: Must watch for any movie buff and more so for sports movie buffs.   

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Following the resignation of US President Richard Nixon in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, British TV host David Frost plans to interview him on a variety of issues including inciting a possible confession for his role in letting down the American people.

Frost struggles to setup the interview as the networks and consequently the ad agencies are not interested. He finally assembles his own team of researchers and his good friend as the producer and gets the show started. He spends around 2 million USD in the process

The interviews are spread across 4 days with the topics clearly planned out. It is literally like a boxing bout as both the camps have so much preparation, planning and researches going on.

Nixon negotiates the first 3 days pretty easily and Frost's camp is frustrated at the impending doom. But the final day brings about a dramatic change in fortunes as Nixon breaks down following a relentless attack by Frost. Nixon confesses to his part in the whole scandal and asks for forgiveness from the American people.

The whole interview becomes a great success. In the end, there are no ill feelings between the 2 camps and Nixon takes it sportingly and retires form public life.

Very gripping and intense movie. Never loses pace. The tension is there throughout. The interviews, the research process and the way the 2 lead characters have performed is terrific. Hats off to Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost. Nixon's voice in particular is majestic. Sheen overdoes the charm part at times but is first class most of the way. Sheen looks very similar to Jack Nicholson in his younger days.

The 3 researchers and Frost's girlfriend also have small yet substantial parts. Hans Zimmer's music doesn't spoilt the tense mood. It adds to the effect. The pre-production and the process of producing a TV program have also been showed very well. The film has a heavy docu feel.

VERDICT: A gripping interview on a notorious scandal. Great performances. 

Classic Revisited: A Beautiful Mind (2001)

The film chronicles the life and times of John Nash, a Nobel laureate in Economics. He is a brilliant mathematician but has troubles with the mind. He has schizophrenia and suffers from delusions - 3 in particular, an imaginary room mate Charles Herman and his niece Marcee and one William Parcher assumed to be working for the US Army in finding a nuke device.  

He is helped by his wife in overcoming all the trauma of medications and hospital treatment. He learns to ignore the delusions beyond a point of time. But, his journey to the Nobel prize takes him through the physical, metaphysical and delusional limits of human possibility. A fascinating true life story

Review

• Russell Crowe delivers one of the most complex roles with myriad emotions, with an ease of the pro that he is. Shame that he missed the Oscar for this. 
• Jenifer Connelly deservingly won the Oscar for her role of the supporting wife who goes through emotional hell. 
• Paul Bettany as Charles, a delusion is so emotive. It is a pity that he is unreal. The actors who come as Sol, Bender and Hanson also have small yet solid roles. 
• James Horner's musical pieces are mesmerizing and give goose bumps. The title track in particular. Another deserving Oscar.
• The prosthetic makeup as the lead pair and other characters age, is very authentic. 
• The screenplay is so gripping that it draws you in from the start. When John gets his delusions and starts messing it up, it is pretty sad and chaotic. That moment when we realize that the 3 characters are delusions, is scary

VERDICT

A psychological classic. All the elements of film making work magic.