A Champion of a movie

Rating: Null/10 (6 March 2005)

This is paragonless cinematic storytelling. Clint Eastwood plays an aging boxing trainer who reluctantly takes under his tutelage an aspiring female pugilist, played by Hilary Swank. Boxing is just a sub-genre here, providing a platform for a compelling story about life circumstances, human character, and the vagaries of fate. Morgan Freeman, in a near flawless performance, plays Eastwood's sidekick in the management of a decrepit gym. Hilary Swank is brilliant in the portrayal of someone determined to realize a dream against tough odds, and overcome humble beginnings. The pool of characters in this movie is an excellent sample, or so it seems, of the human landscape in modern society. You will relate to one or more of them as they cope with personal demons and jockey for position in the rat race. This, however, is not a reprocessed rags to riches tale a la "ROCKY" , as many moviegoers would rather have it, I'm sure. This movie imparts a brutal reminder that there is absolutely no method to the madness of fate, and that in the boxing ring of life, good people are not always the last ones standing. This is as good a film as you'll ever have the opportunity to watch. To say otherwise, I respectfully submit, would be a hopeless attempt at contrariety.