Press Release

Universal Studios Home Entertainment announces Oscar® Winners Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Unite for One of The Year’s Most Powerful and Inspiring Films

Cinderella Man

DVD Release and Two-Disc Edition Boxed Set Available December 6, 2005

“One of the Best Movies Ever” – Larry King, CNN
 

Universal City, California, October 19, 2005 – Cinderella Man, the inspirational and heroic true American story starring Oscar®-winners Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger, arrives on DVD and VHS on December 6, 2005 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. From the Academy Award® winning duo of filmmakers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13), comes the uplifting story about second chances, a wife’s determination and one man’s desperate fight to keep his family together against seemingly unbeatable odds. The single-disc DVD release, available in widescreen and full frame, is priced at $29.98 SRP and a widescreen two-disc Collector’s Edition boxed set containing additional bonus features and exclusive collectibles is priced at $44.98 SRP. Both versions also feature DVS® (Descriptive Video Service) of the film intended for blind and low-vision audiences.

In yet another critically acclaimed performance praised by reviewers across the country, Russell Crowe portrays James J. Braddock, an unlikely hero whose decency, dedication and determination to face any adversity for those he loved inspired an entire nation. Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones’s

Diary, Chicago, Cold Mountain), co-stars as his fiercely devoted wife Mae, and Golden Globeâ nominee Paul Giamatti (Sideways, American Splendor) plays his irrepressible manager, Joe Gould. The standout-supporting cast includes Craig Bierko (The Thirteenth Floor, The Long Kiss Goodnight) as the arrogant heavyweight champ Max Baer and Bruce McGill (Collateral, Runaway Jury) as hardball fight promoter Jimmy Johnston. Cliff Hollingsworth and Oscar® winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind; I, Robot) wrote the screenplay based on Braddock’s amazing life.

KODAK IN THE RING WITH NATIONAL PROMOTION

Kodak is partnering with Universal Studios Home Entertainment to support the DVD release with a national purchase offer: A purchase of $199 worth of participating Kodak product and the Cinderella Man DVD earns four free additional DVDs from the following list of popular favorites: Spy Game, A Beautiful Mind, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Friday Night Lights, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, Love Actually, Apollo 13 and Field of Dreams. The promotion runs December 6 -31.

A national sweepstakes will also offer a grand prize of a trip for 12 to Universal Studios Hollywood as well as many other high value prizes from Kodak and Universal.

The promotion will be communicated beginning in the November and December issues of several publications including Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, People, Rolling Stone, US Weekly and Premiere. Additional awareness will be generated throughout December via a national FSI, point-of-sale in over 7,000 retail locations and online advertising.

KNOCKOUT REVIEWS

Film critics are proclaiming Cinderella Man a winner! Larry King calls the film “one of the best movies ever” and Richard Roeper of “Ebert & Roeper” calls it “rousing, thrilling, inspirational.” “USA Today” gives it four stars out of four, while “Rolling Stone’s” Peter Travers dubs it “the classic American tale of the family man triumphant.”

Heavyweight Bonus Features

The Cinderella Man DVD contains in-depth features about the making of the film and the life of James J. Braddock:

SIDE A

Feature Commentary with Director Ron Howard

Feature Commentary with Writer Akiva Goldsman

Feature Commentary with Writer Cliff Hollingsworth

DVS (Descriptive Video Service)

SIDE B

Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Ron Howard

The Fight Card: Casting Cinderella Man

Interviews with the cast, director, producer and casting director provide insight to the casting process that was so integral to this film’s success.

The Man, The Movie, The Legend: A Filmmaking Journey

Director Ron Howard, Russell Crowe, Director of Photography Salvatore Totino, Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi and Make-Up artist David Anderson discuss what it takes to help transform Russell Crowe into Jim Braddock.

For the Record: A History in Boxing

Focus on Angelo Dundee/history of boxing – The legendary trainer takes viewers through the history of boxing, commenting both on camera and off to NBC archival footage.

Ringside Seats
Focus on original Braddock/Baer match - Director Ron Howard, writer Akiva Goldsman, writer Norman Mailer, and producer Brian Grazer watch and comment on the original Braddock and Baer fight in a casual, sit down environment.

Jim Braddock: The Friends & Family Behind The Legend

The family of Jim Braddock sits down to discuss the legend of Jim Braddock and what it means for his story to be brought to the big screen.



The Cinderella Man Collector’s Edition contains additional deleted scenes and explores the life and times of James J. Braddock’s world. Also included is an intimate video diary from Russell Crowe about his preparation for the role:



Additional Deleted Scenes with Commentary By Director Ron Howard

Russell Crowe’s Personal Journey: Becoming Jim Braddock

Follow Russell Crowe to his home in Australia as he develops the skills and talent of James Braddock's boxing style. Boxing Trainer Angelo Dundee, Fight Choreographer Nick Powell, and the boxers from Cinderella Man train at Russell's home outside of Sydney before production begins.

Pre-Fight Preparations

Focus on script – In-depth discussion with the writers on the development of the script. The cast, production designer, costume designer and cinematographer discuss what attracted them to this project.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Fight From Every Angle

Focus on cinematography/choreography - During this multi-angle feature, Director Ron Howard and Director of Photography Salvatore Totino, will explain why it was important to have so many cameras on the set.

Braddock vs. Baer Fight Footage
The authentic James J. Braddock vs. Max Baer fight from 1935.

Photo Montage

The Sound of the Bell

Focus on music/score - An in-depth discussion with Director Ron Howard and his composer, Thomas Newman, on scoring the film.

Cinderella Man Music Featurette

Synopsis

Academy AwardÒ winners Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger star in this triumphant, powerfully inspiring true story. In a time when America needed a champion, an unlikely hero would arise, proving how hard a man would fight to win a second chance for his family and himself. Suddenly thrust into the national spotlight, boxer Jim Braddock would defy the odds against him and stun the world with one of the greatest comebacks in history. Driven by love for his family, he willed an impossible dream to come true.

For more information please visit: www.cinderellamanmovie.com.

CAST & FILMMAKERS
Director: Ron Howard

Screenplay By: Cliff Hollingsworth, Akiva Goldsman

Story By: Cliff Hollingsworth

Produced By: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Penny Marshall

Executive Producers: Todd Hallowell

Director of Photography: Salvatore Totino

Production Designer: Wynn Thomas

Edited By: Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

Costume Designer: Daniel Orlandi

Music By: Thomas Newman

Cast: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Paddy Considine, Bruce McGill, David Huband, Rosemarie DeWitt, Linda Kash

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD

Street Date: December 6, 2005

Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Price: $29.98 SRP (Single Disc); $44.98 SRP (Collector’s Edition)

Selection Numbers: 22119 (Widescreen); 25839 (Full Frame); 28707 Collector’s Edition

Running Time: 2 Hours 25 Minutes

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 1.33:1 (Full Frame)

Rating: PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language

Technical Info: English Audio Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS; French Audio Dolby Digital 5.1; English, Spanish and French Subtitles

VHS

Street Date: December 6, 2005

Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Price: $29.98 SRP (19.95 MAP)

Selection Numbers: 60191

Running Time: 2 Hours 25 Minutes

Aspect Ratio: Full Frame

Rating: PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language

Audio: Hi-Fi Stereo Surround

For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.