MUMBAI: The temperatures are rising as the world gears up for the hottest event of the year, the OSCARS! Star Movies sets the mood for the Oscars with a month-long showcase of the most acclaimed Oscar winning and nominated films in the recent past. Tune in to Oscar Fever this Thursday night, February 8th at 11 p.m. to watch Cinderella Man only on Star Movies.

Watch Academy Award winners Russell Crowe and Ren?e Zellweger star in this triumphant, powerfully inspiring true story directed by award winning director Ron Howard. The movie was a smash hit, earning $108,539,911 at the worldwide box office. It was nominated in 3 categories including Best Achievement in Editing, Best Achievement in Makeup and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

When America was on its knees, he brought it to its feet. He raised the nation‘s spirit and gave it the strength to keep on fighting! In a time when America needed a champion, an unlikely hero arose, proving how hard a man would fight to win a second chance for his family and himself. During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief.

But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks, until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed two men in the ring.

Did you know?

Was originally intended to be directed by Lasse Hallstr?m

Russell Crowe dislocated his shoulder while training for the film‘s boxing sequences, which delayed the filming two months.

Professional boxers played Braddock‘s opponents. They were told to land their blows as close to Crowe‘s body as possible.

Unfortunately, they sometimes couldn‘t pull back in time and ended up injuring Crowe.

Crowe suffered from several concussions and cracked teeth.
According to Steve Kroft during an interview with ‘Russell Crowe (I)‘ on an episode of "60 Minutes" (1968), the role of Jim Braddock is Crowe‘s personal favorite.

The Oscar Fever on Star Movies is a curtain raiser to The 79th Annual Academy Awards - LIVE & Exclusive only on STAR Movies on February 26th at 5. 30 a.m. with a prime time repeat on the same day at 8.00 p.m. Viewers in India will now get to watch the star-studded event along with million‘s from across the globe. The films that form a part of the Oscar showcase on Star Movies have either been nominated or have won the Oscar award in various categories such as Best Direction, Best performance by an actor in a leading role, Best performance by an actor in a supporting role, Best sound editing, Best picture etc.

Let the temperatures soar as the ‘Oscar fever‘ overtakes you! Tune in to Cinderella Man, this Thursday, February 8th at 11 p.m. only on Star Movies!