"Million Dollar Baby"

Starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman. Directed by Clint Eastwood. 2004, Warner Bros/Lakeshore.

'Million Dollar Baby' isn't a boxing movie. It is a movie about a boxer. It's a movie about hope, redemption and persistence, one that translates to its audience and gives them a sense of purpose. Everyone has a dream and most people don't ever achieve it. 'Million Dollar Baby' portrays one dream and tells us that it can be done even in the most unexpected and most arduous of circumstances. But every dream comes with a price.

Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a no-nonsense trainer who has devoted his life to his profession. His life is empty, his only friend is an aging former champion (Morgan Freeman) who has let his life diminish in a sea of pity and his run-down Gym is the only purpose to both their lives. One day comes Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) who quite simply wants to be a boxing champion. She doesn't ask much except for Frankie to train her into a champion. Naturally he rejects her offer, but begins to find potential in her determination. Maggie wants to be a boxer, but also wants to find a purpose to her non-existent life. Together, these three outcasts form a bond.

Clint Eastwood's direction here is quiet, subtle and unassuming. It's not flashy, it's not pretty and most of all, it allows the story to flow the film. The boxing scenes aren't created as one big spectacle, but fit into the background of the scene. After all, this isn't a movie about boxing. The screenplay by Paul Haggis is tremendously well-written and it complements what Eastwood is evoking to the audience. Haggis creates three exceptional characters who are finding meaning in their lives and the bond between Eastwood and Swank's character is so real. Many smaller characters have touching moments and it would have been so easy to make the characters one-dimensional portrayals but Eastwood gives them a raw realness to them. The inclusion of Maggie's redneck family could have been used as comical relief, but is handled with delicate sympathy and sadness that it's hard not to feel connected to her character's plight. The priest whom Frankie frequently attends service and the mentally challenged young kid (Jay Baruchel) are also poignant moments that in a weaker director would have come off as corny.

Eastwood is like a bottle of wine, he is getting better with age. Only hot off 'Mystic River' last year, he has created a different movie of similar superiority. Here, he tends to overdraw many scenes and the film would have been far tighter if it didn't drag out especially in the last act. The narration too seems unnecessary since it distracts from the story. The ending may be met with some disappointment to audiences who think everything is about a happy ending, but life is never about picture perfect conclusions. Eastwood worked hard on the film, he also composed the score and produced the film. It's a labour of love and it shows.

On the performance side, this is Clint Eastwood's best work to date in a very tough role. The character of Frankie is very hard to like in the first half, but the character comes a long way in the story and Eastwood is at the top of his game. Morgan Freeman is stuck in a tricky situation: he has become so dependable of an actor that it's hard to really to find him doing a performance that is powerful. The role is very similar to that from 'The Shawshank Redemption' and although not his best work, Freeman is always good. Special mention must go to young Jay Baruchel who is sad, funny and effective in the role of Danger, a young mentally challenged kid who just wants to box. Eastwood should have used him more, it's a great role and Baruchel makes it work. Although both Eastwood and Freeman are excellent, this movie belongs to Hilary Swank in a performance that will be a crime not to win Best Actress. Swank's role in 'Boy's Don't Cry', which got her the Oscar in 1999 was good but this is an astonishing performance, the best since Charlize Theron in 'Monster'. Physically, emotionally, spiritually…Swank has this role nailed to perfection. The commitment to the role is undeniable; she deserves to win every award that comes to her.

'Million Dollar Baby' is a powerful piece of drama. Although it could have been shortened slightly and it does drag on scenes unnecessarily, when it's on fire, there's no way of stopping its emotional power. A cast of actors at the top of their game led by Hilary Swank's moving portrayal of a loner just wanting a break in life; Clint Eastwood has mounted a beautifully touching movie. It's awards attention and Oscar nominations are all justified.


out of ten

Reviewed by Chris Cappola

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