MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Plot Summary

Helped by his friend Scrap (Morgan Freeman), Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) runs a dilapidated boxing gym in downtown L.A. Frankie is a great trainer with many years of experience but he's about to lose one of his best fighters to another manager. Although a great trainer he is overprotective of his fighters and is slow to bring them  to the final step which is a shot at the title.

Female boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) approaches Frankie and asks him to train her. He tells her that he doesn't train girls and when she tells him that she is fairly tough he says "tough isn't enough" and walks away. Maggie doesn't give up and starts training (badly), by herself, in Frankie's gym. Ignoring her for as long as he can but intrigued by her eagerness and determination Frankie finally agrees to train her temporarily...

Review

Although there are plenty of boxing fights, Million Dollar Baby isn't just a story about boxing. It's as much a story about struggling and surviving outside the ring. It's about characters who struggle to pay the bills, put food on the table and who dream of something better. The three main characters Frankie, Scrap and Maggie are very "human", with faults, fears, regrets and dreams. Frankie is old and cantankerous, worn down by a life of knocks and regrets. Scrap, once a possible title contender, lost the sight in one of his eyes in his last fight. Now he is the caretaker in Frankie's gym. Maggie has waited tables since she was 13 and now at 31 her determination to realise her dream of becoming a boxing champion is as strong as ever.

The story is told and filmed in a straightforward style. This adds to the sense of reality and seems appropriate to the story and characters. Frankie's gym is run-down and poorly lit giving a gloomy dull mood. Some of the scenes have the characters half in shadow, almost shown in silhouette. It is as if we should focus on the characters and what they say; no glitz or fancy camera work.

The acting in Million Dollar Baby is great. Clint Eastwood is perfect as the craggy, tired, cranky old trainer. Things that have happened in the past make him regretful and he is not at peace with himself. As he slowly warms to Maggie he becomes softer and a natural father/daughter bond develops.

Maggie, played by Hilary Swank, is spirited and determined; a real fighter inside and outside the ring. She is a likeable character with an endearing smile that hides her burning ambition. Hilary Swank gives an excellent performance and is totally convincing and credible in the part.

In the film Morgan Freeman's character narrates the story from time to time; similar to the way he did in The Shawshank Redemption. He has a deep rich voice that implies a lifetime of experiences that suit the character.

Lasting Thought: When we die how many of us will be happy that we realised our dreams or that we even came close.

Bottom Line: A heartfelt story that doesn't get over-sentimental. Great acting and script create credible and convincing characters. A memorable drama that changes direction towards the end.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: CLINT EASTWOOD: Mystic River.  HILARY SWANK: Insomnia.  MORGAN FREEMAN:  Bruce Almighty,  High Crimes,  The Sum Of All Fears.

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Genre: Drama

Director: Clint Eastwood

Certificate: Million Dollar Baby is rated 16 by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie). The film contains strong violence in the boxing scenes and some moderate language.

Official Movie Website:  Million Dollar Baby

~ Main Cast ~

Clint Eastwood

Hilary Swank

Morgan Freeman

RATING

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