Cinderella Man Giveaway
Congratulations to Tamara Turner and Beatrice Foley
for winning our Cinderella Man Giveaway! Their winning submissions are below:
Beatrice Foley
1. Gladiator, because Ridley Scott's vision of ancient Rome and Russell's
amazing ability to embody the character of a man who is a fierce general,
avenging family man and loyal Roman bring true artistry to the screen. Stunning
cinematography, beautiful music and superb acting combine for a haunting,
touching story of a man's journey to fulfill his destiny. No wonder it won the
Academy Award and is beloved by millions.
2. The Insider. Michael Mann's stunning direction and Russell Crowe's evocative
portrayal of an ordinary man caught up in the clutches of corporate greed
combine with a mind-blowing portrait of the current state of the media for an
unforgettable film. The entire cast, not just Pacino, Crowe & Plummer, take you
inside the modern corporate world, where the high financial stakes make personal
integrity standout. Russell's well deserved first Oscar-worthy performance
makes you understand the cost whistle-blowers pay in today's society.
3. Boy, coming up with a third choice out of the wonderful range of Russell's
work is really hard to do. While I'm very fond of Proof of Life because Russell
plays a native Antipodean and his evocation of the mentally ill John Nash is
heartbreaking, I think I have to say that in Jack Aubrey he simply embodies the
bluff, patriotic and skilled seaman to the nth degree. His understated work in
Peter Weir's masterpiece perfectly balances Paul Bettany's wry character and
makes us appreciate the heartbreak and hard work it took to sail the world in
the 19th Century.
Tamara Turner
I chose L.A. Confidential, The Sum of Us and The Insider as my three favorite
Russell Crowe films because each is an example of how Crowe compels us to care
about a character. Together, they also form an excellent example of his
remarkable range as an actor.
L.A. Confidential is not only my favorite Russell Crowe film, but my favorite
film of all time. Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson distilled James Ellroy's
dizzying, operatic crime novel into a gripping, authentic journey through the
LAPD and underworld crime scene of the 1950s. Crowe's Bud White seems to walk
directly from the pages of Ellroy's book onto the screen. He is at once tough
and vulnerable, a cop who grows before our eyes from a simple minded thug into a
first rate detective with a conscience. Bud drives the story forward and ties
together the myriad plot threads. Crowe as Bud is riveting onscreen. His
convictions about justice, and in particular his protective feelings toward
women, fuel the energy of his barely contained rage. I sympathize with Bud so
much that when he loses his tightly controlled cool, as when he grips the chair
in the police station so hard that it explodes in his hands, I feel a gleeful,
cathartic release. Perhaps it is because of the restra!
int he uses in the bulk of his performances, but I always find it tremendous
fun to watch Crowe play crazy.
Another of my favorites is The Sum of Us, in which Crowe and Jack Thompson play
a sensitive, lonely gay man and his father. Their relationship is all about
unconditional love and acceptance, and is a beautiful and moving film about
family. Despite its sentimentality it never feels maudlin. The dynamic interplay
between Crowe and Thompson is an example of another of Crowe’s gifts: he is a
generous ensemble player who enhances his co-stars performances. Jeff is every
bit as compelling as any of the heroic leaders Crowe has played.
My last choice is The Insider. Michael Mann took the potentially dry material of
a tobacco industry whistle blower and made it into a compulsively watchable film
about ethics and courage in life and in business. This is due largely to Crowe,
who so thoroughly inhabits his character of Jeffrey Wigand as to become
invisible. The disappearing act is not accomplished through his weight gain or
make up, but through Crowe’s uncanny ability to step outside himself. Crowe made
me care deeply about a man who is not standard hero material, but rather,
prickly, uncertain and emotionally reserved.
View Official Site
Movie Vault and Univeral Pictures are once again proud to host yet another great prize giveaway!
Synopsis:
Russell Crowe stars in the story 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,
Braddock 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.
Windows Media Theatrical:
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Windows Media Teaser:
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Prizes:
We are giving away two prize packages, each consisting of: a hat, t-shirt, poster, and soundtrack!
How to enter:
To enter the contest all you have to do is name your top 3 favourite Russell Crowe films and explain why you enjoy them, and e-mail that response to webmaster@movie-vault.com. The best two written/reasoned responses will be the chosen winners.
Be sure to provide your full address so we can send you your prize if you are a winner!
Rules & Regulations:
Open to residents of the U.S and Canada only. Must be 18 or older to qualify, or have parental/guardian consent.
Contest Deadline:
This contest will end on: May 14 2005
*Winners will be announced or ASAP by e-mail.
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