Russell Crowe Forced the Director to Use CGI, Change Crucial Scene in $108M Sports Drama
Russell Crowe is well-known for his devotion and attention to detail when it comes to role preparation. Crowe underwent a physical makeover to adequately represent James J. Braddock. To match Braddock’s heavy-weight boxer figure, he acquired a large amount of weight, approximately 40 pounds. Crowe is known for immersing himself in the eras of the films on which he works, and Cinderella Man was no exception.
Crowe was nominated for best actor for his performance in The Insider as Jeffrey Wigand, the man who had the bravery to blow the whistle on tobacco firms. Crowe won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his commanding, muscular performance in The Gladiator. Crowe’s calm and poignant performance as a troubled genius in A Beautiful Mind earned him yet another Oscar nomination.
Why does Russell Crowe want to modify Cinderella Man?
Committed to delivering exceptional films, Russell Crowe continued his pursuit of perfection even after filming one of the most iconic scenes in Cinderella Man. Although Cinderella Man is inspired by the real-life story of boxer James J. Braddock during the Great Depression, one might assume that the scene where Braddock returns the government relief money is a fictional addition. However, Crowe, known for his meticulousness, went the extra mile to confirm its authenticity. He successfully located the genuine receipt from the welfare office transaction, available for sale on a boxing fan website. This discovery showcases Crowe’s dedication to detail and his commitment to ensuring accuracy in the portrayal of his character.
The Actor said, “I bought it, and I rang Ron up and said, ‘You’ve got the number wrong by about $50. You’ll have to change it in CGI,’ which he thought was really amusing and typical of me.” Ron Howard replied, “You know what, Russell? I’m going to leave that one in. That’s my one concession to the fact that it’s just a movie.”
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Despite generally positive reactions, the boxing film Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard, opened in nearly 3,000 cinemas across the US on June 3, 2005, but failed to make a significant impact at the box office. Despite its underperformance at the box office, numerous executives remain firm in their belief that Cinderella Man is a film of exceptional quality. Instead of letting it fade away unnoticed, they are exploring strategies to give it a second chance. One approach under consideration is a re-release in October on a more limited number of screens, to reignite the crucial Oscars buzz. Some individuals simply express a wish that Universal had originally opted for an autumn release from the start.
Russell Crowe as James J. Braddock
Russell Crowe does not have to like a character in order to play him in a film. But he couldn’t help but admire real-life boxer James J. Braddock, whose miraculous return made him a working-class hero during the Great Depression. In Cinderella Man, the Australian actor embraced a New Jersey accent and embarked on the most physically demanding training of his career to portray Braddock’s story on the screen.
“The way I look at it is, I love the job of acting. You know, I can play the nastiest person in the world, doesn’t matter, because I love exploring the human condition. So Braddock was a different thing for me.” Crowe said during a conference call with reporters.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
