Boxing Ring of Life.

Rating: Null/10 (5 April 2005)

Truly excellent film from director Clint Eastwood about a 30-something woman (a striking turn by Hilary Swank) from Missouri who dreams of becoming a boxer. She finally makes it out to California, meets trainer Eastwood (who wants nothing to do with her), and tries to convince him to help her with her sports career. Swank hangs around the gym, to Eastwood's dismay, and gets help from an old former fighter (Morgan Freeman in his finest performance) who now stays around and acts as a janitor at Eastwood's sweat-box. Reluctantly, Eastwood starts to help Swank and slowly they develop a father-daughter bond as Swank indeed starts a meteoric rise in the female boxing ranks. However, "Million Dollar Baby" is not really about women boxers. It is a tale about three characters that are all broken up inside emotionally and all are trying to cling to something that can repair their damaged psyches. Swank, admitted white trash, feels like someone when she is fighting. The 15 minutes of fame she gets from it is something that makes her feel adequate and complete as a person. Eastwood is a devout Catholic that just does not understand God's ultimate plan. He tries hard to see that everything that happens does happen for a reason, but the fact that Freeman lost an eye while he was fighting under Eastwood's care still haunts him. This point makes Eastwood leery about putting his male boxers in the ring for championship bouts. And then there is Freeman (who also narrates here ala "The Shawshank Redemption"), an individual that just seems tired and beaten by life in general. He has come to the realization (long before we ever see his character on film) that life is going to continue to punch him in the face and he has admitted defeat and put up a figurative white flag. His deep emotions are hidden by a worn-out body and a somewhat indifferent disposition. Landmark direction by Eastwood as he goes way beyond his best works behind the camera ("Unforgiven and "Mystic River") and arguably has his best performance in front of it. Freeman and Swank have jaw-dropping roles that make the whole thing work. This movie is not just about sports. It is a powerful motion picture about life, love, friendship, family, spirituality, mercy and the choices that define us as human beings. "Million Dollar Baby" raises huge questions about living that are not easily answered and many times not easily understood. An emotional knock-out that ranks real high on the list of greatest movies ever made. 5 stars out of 5.