Compare Original Sin to Cinderella Man

Late nineteenth century Cuba. Dawn. At the docks, Luis (Antonio Banderas) waits for his American mail-order bride. But, his wait seems to be in vain. Then, magically, she appears--Julia (Angelina Jolie). And, she is beautiful, unlike the woman whose picture she sent. But Luis had lied as well--he wrote that he was only a clerk in the coffee company that he actually owns. In spite of their deceptions, they marry immediately. They are blissfully happy, although Julia has her demons. She has nightmares, she ignores her sister's letters, and--mysteriously--won't open her trunk. Her sister sends an unnerving detective to check that she arrived. Still unsatisfied, her sister arrives herself. That's when Julia disappears with the money in Luis's bank accounts, instantaneously transforming Luis's dream into a nightmare. <br> <br> Scriptwriter/director Michael Cristofer explores sexual obsession and deception in ORIGINAL SIN. The sumptuous thriller, based on Cornell Woolrich's classic noir novel, has elegant, lu... Less

Director Ron Howard and star Russell Crowe re-team after their Oscar-winning collaboration, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, for this rousing biopic. It's the true story of boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), a heavyweight contender from New Jersey nicknamed "the Bulldog of Bergen," who lost his fame and fortune during the Great Depression only to win the hearts of the downtrodden during a spectacular comeback. Crowe is masterful as Braddock, with Renee Zellweger playing his wife, and Paul Giamatti as his loyal friend and manager, Joe Gould. The sharply observed script devotes a significant amount of screen time to the domestic struggles of Braddock's family; developing character and place with a wealth of period detail, so when the comeback starts, the payoff is enormous. The matches themselves are unforgettable: raw, intense, riveting, with more than a passing stylistic nod to Martin Scorsese's groundbreaking 1980 film, RAGING BULL. Though it may sound a bit formulaic, one should remember that this is the true a... Less