Triumph of The Human Spirit !! 9.5

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2005)

Clint Eastwood directs and stars in another movie destined for classic status!!! Taken from the stories of "Rope Burns"by F. X. OToole, Hillary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman find the triangle is completed by the square of the boxing arena. The complexities of life merge with challenges of the sweet science for Maggie Fitzgerald(Swank) going nowhere in life, whose only release can be found in pugilism. A 31 year old unskilled amateur , Maggie in need of a trainer and manager, pursues Eastwood, who can provide the needed direction. Eastwood finds Maggie, as the lost daughter and champion fighter , that can salvage his life. Scrap-Iron(Morgan Freeman) exorcises his demons, with his symbiotic relationship with Eastwood and Swank.
The movie moves along at an even pace, with plenty of emotional highs ,and some lows. Terrific performances by Swank, Eastwood and Freeman , are more than worth the price of admission. Not a true boxing movie, but about life choices, or lack of them, and the sacrifice people are willing to take to achieve them. Terrific direction by Eastwood, takes you to the core of the principle characters, and has you rooting for every punch thrown, a victory for all of us.
A must see for everyone who has to make that moment of truth decision !
A Triumph of the human spirit ,that you will never forget !!!