Producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman--all Oscar winners for 2001's A Beautiful Mind--are reunited with Oscar-winner Russell Crowe for Cinderella Man, inspired by the life of legendary athlete Jim Braddock, a once-promising light heavyweight boxer forced into retirement after a string of losses in the ring. As the nation enters the darkest years of the Great Depression, Braddock accepts a string of dead-end jobs to support his wife, Mae (Renee Zellweger), and their children, while never totally abandoning his dream of boxing again. Thanks to a last-minute cancellation, Braddock finds himself back in the ring against the second-ranked world contender--and to everyone's amazement, wins in the third round. Despite being pounds lighter than his opponents and repeated injuries to his hands, Braddock continues to fight against challengers and win. Carrying on his shoulders the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised, Braddock, dubbed the Cinderella Man, faces his toughest challenger in Max Baer (Craig Bierko), the heavyweight champion of the world, renowned for having killed two men in the ring. Braddock--not so much a great boxer as a great man who boxed--climbed into the ring seeking nothing more than to provide for his wife and children. His commitment to them inspired him to championship, elevating the family man with a simple cause to the level of legend. The Newmarket Shooting Script book includes the complete screenplay, an exclusive introduction and O&A with director Ron Howard, film stills and complete cast and crew credits.

"The story of James Braddock-a down-on-his-luck boxer trying to keep his family fed and sheltered during the Great Depression-is indeed compelling, as reading this shooting script of the film based on Braddock's life clearly shows. The book will certainly please fans of the movie, even if the introductions by filmmakers Howard and Grazer on why they were drawn to the story are obvious ('I found it so heartbreaking and emotional,' says Grazer). Screenwriter Goldsman's contribution may be the best; it delves into how he shapes narrative. The way to do it, Goldsman says, is to 'build your screenplay around conflict.' Goldsman's challenge with Cinderella Man, however, was that Braddock 'didn't have a dark side.' In addition to the introductions and script, the book contains stills, showing Russell Crowe in his role as Braddock, and Renée Zellweger in her role as Braddock's wife, Mae. Historical notes and reproduced New York Time articles about Braddock's legendary championship fight against Max Baer round out the book, placing Braddock's life into the larger context of the Depression. Photos. " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

The shooting script from the movie "Cinderella Man" includes the complete screenplay, a Q&A with director Ron Howard, film stills, and complete cast and crew credits from the movie about legendary boxer Jim Braddock.

From the award-winning creative team behind Best Picture Oscar winner A Beautiful Mind, the new film starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger, inspired by the life of legendary boxer Jim Braddock who defeated heavyweight champ Max Baer in a 15-round fight in 1935. The book includes the complete script and an exclusive introduction and Q & A with director Ron Howard.