Great story, and thanks for not "hollywooding" it!

By now you have read lots about the protagonist of this film and his story of small time to big time success, in the belly of urban America during the great depression. This movie was a perfect rendition of the attitudes and struggles that hung in the real lives of people in this era.

But this is just no ordinary story. It's what some consider to be the greatest story in sports history. Not just because of the monumental athletic accomplishment of an ultimate underdog triumphing over favorite after favorite, but because it was the untouchable spirit of the "average joe" rising up and winning against all odds, not for some selfish gain, but for the most noble of causes- the care and concern to provide for his own family.

Crowe provides his most convincing performance of his career in this gripping human tale. Zelwegger is absolutely unstoppable as the wife of underclass nobility. Really, this movie succeeds completely in all respects. The acting, directing, even the visuals are perfectly thought out and executed.

But what is really great is that we don't see this film become a political statement (in either direction), nor do we see it turned into an unrealistic hype of Hollywood on a plot that is basically simple, yet still wonderfully heroic.

This movie is worth seeing, and but for the actual boxing violence, I would say that it is a great movie for pre-teens and teenage boys to see, because of its excellent perspective and morals on facing pressures and difficulty. I will be taking my 13 year old son to see this one and I know it will be a great film for him to see.