Clint Eastwood as "Frankie" Goes to Hollywood with Swank and Rope Burns

Rating: 10/10 (19 January 2009)

"'I don't train girls,' trainer Frankie Dunn growls. But something's different about the spirited boxing hopeful who shows up daily at Dunn's gym. All she wants is a fighting chance. Clint Eastwood plays Dunn and directs, produces and composes music for this acclaimed, multi-award-winning tale of heart, hope and family. Hilary Swank plays resilient Maggie, determined not to abandon her one dream. And Morgan Freeman is Scrap, gym caretaker and counterpoint to Dunn's crustiness. Grab your dreams and come out swinging. 'Million Dollar Baby' is an absolute knockout."
Clint Eastwood Hits the Nail on the Head.
I expected this film to be a "feminist" version of the traditional male-dominated "boxing movie". It opens with a realistic depiction of the kind of physical damage boxing causes - so, I thought, are they going to show Q-Tips being shoved into the bloody, slit open face of movie star Hillary Swank? I thought not Although Ms. Swank does not suffer a wound like the one in the introduction, "Million Dollar Baby" does not skirt this issue. The film is as realistic as they come. Swank is amazing, absolutely earning her many "Best Actress" honors.
"She grew up knowing one thing, she was trash."
Auteur Eastwood is even more incredible - as producer, director, star, and composer. He uses his years of film-making experience wisely, and does not let one role interfere with another. The goal of a superior film is achieved, with generosity rather than egotism in evidence. "Million Dollar Baby" is, also, the crowning achievement of the "Eastwood style". The lighting is exquisite. The film is quiet when it should be quiet, and noisy when it should be NOISY. The harder-to-manage "quietness" is expertly handled. The film is beautiful without being loud - it's starkly beautiful.
Eastwood allows his audience to become a part of this movie.
Morgan Freeman gives one of filmdom's all-time "Best Supporting Actor" performances. His character's narration gives the film poetry. Narration is one of the easiest techniques to administer, but one of the hardest to muster convincingly; Mr. Freeman's is most convincing. And, Freeman's more subtle counterpoint story - his relationship with slow-witted Jay Baruchel (as Danger "Flip" Barch) - gives the film hope. Mr. Baruchel might have won a "Best Supporting the Best Supporting Actor" award (as of this writing, not introduced).
"Boxing is about respect - getting it for yourself and taking it away from the other guy."
"Million Dollar Baby" is about loving, non-sexual and non-familial relationships (count the number of sexually involved "couples" in this film), and how very important these relationships are to our lives, and dreams. "Somewhere between nowhere and goodbye," Eastwood echoes Lloyd Price, "Just because you left and said goodbye, do you think that I will sit and cry? Even if my heart should tell me so, darling I would rather let you go..."
********** Million Dollar Baby (2004) Clint Eastwood ~ Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel