In one word: Predictable

Rating: 6/10 (23 March 2005)

How many movies have we seen where the underdog protagonists (such as Swank in this movie) walk into a strongly typed world, only to be rejected and then accepted pretty soon? That was just one example as to why this movie is unimpressive. Then we have Eastwood as such a master trainer whose betrayal-talent walks out of his (Eastwood's) little ring to become no less than a world champion in, apparently, a few days! How often you see a boxing ring being on top and still its Principal manager (Freeman) mopping floors and toilets? My God! I am not religious at all but I liked the fantasies of the "Passion" better than the realism and ugly emotionalism of this movie. And THIS got the Oscar for the Best Movie?! Swank, Eastwood and Freeman were all very good but the entire plot was so weak, predictable and clichéd.
And those of us disgusted by junk mails and commercials are not going to appreciate over exposure of "Apprentice" on city buses and other overly exposed insignias on sporting goods.
Tut. Tut. Tut.
Okay, not the worst movie I have seen, but not better than 6 stars out of 10 for sure.