Wow!

Rating: 9/10 (8 April 2005)

Million Dollar Baby is one of those films which leaves you sitting in silence as the end credits roll. The silence is one of awe, but also one akin to being unable to speak after being floored by a sucker punch. "I didn't see that coming" will be the prevalent thought.
The film starts predictably enough; a 31-year-old girl (Swank) wishes to become a champion boxer, and to achieve that she seeks the best trainer around: Frankie (Eastwood). Although he initially refuses she continues to train and, after Frankie's friend (Freeman) intervenes and convinces him, he decides to train her. Under Eastwood's coaching she progresses rapidly, ultimately earning a championship shot. At this point you would be forgiven for believing this film to be a simple boxing movie, a female version of Rocky. However, Eastwood and writers Paul Haggis and F.X. Toole have loftier ideas than this, and it is here the knockout punch is delivered to the audience, taking the film in a radically new direction.
The film cleaned up at the Academy Awards, and deservedly so, for it is a truly great piece of film-making. Eastwood and Swank are certainly worthy of their awards (for Best Director and Best Actress respectively) but it is Freeman who is the outstanding turn here. In a typical understated role, as both Frankie's friend and the narrator, it is he who lends the film sincerity and gravitas. His chemistry with Eastwood in particular is excellent, thanks partly through their prior experience together on Eastwood's earlier Unforgiven. Freeman has long been a mainstay of Hollywood, and his Best Supporting Actor award is both richly earned and long overdue.
Eastwood's handling of some delicate material towards the end of the film, although brave, is commendable, and the change in direction, whilst not quite a twist on the level of The Usual Suspects, is an intriguing one. Overall a rather harrowing film, and although it is a film to be savoured, it is not one that can be watched comfortably a second time.