Show me a fighter who's nothing but heart, and I'll show you a man who's waiting for a beatin'.

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2005)

Masterpiece. Engrossing. Heartbreaking. All words that describe a Johnny Betts movie review. But they can also be used to describe Clint Eastwood's latest project - Million Dollar Baby. Make no mistake about it; I'm a huge Eastwood mark. So you might be inclined to believe that since I'm a fan, I'm just gonna praise whatever he does. That's not entirely true though. The man has an Oscar resting comfortably upon his shelf, so he certainly doesn't need my validation.
Clint is no stranger to critical success, but for my money Million Dollar Baby is a better movie than his other two most heralded movies - Unforgiven (which I felt was overrated and one of Clint's weaker Westerns) and Mystic River, Clint's Oscar-hyped wristslitter of 2003. They all have their merits, but Million Dollar Baby has a fascinating combination of deliberate, gripping storytelling, great acting, sparse but well-placed music, engaging drama, and subtle humor that the others don't have. Oh, and the boxing in the movie is very realistic, nothing fancy or over-the-top.
Speaking of boxing, the word alone is enough to turn off some viewers. One of the first responses I get whenever I start explaining the plot to this movie is, "Oh, I don't like boxing movies, so I probably won't like it." One thing you need to understand is that this is not a boxing movie. It's a movie about human relationships that just happens to use boxing as its backdrop.
There's the relationship between Frankie and Scrap. Frankie worked as a cut man for Scrap many years ago, and twenty-three years later, Frankie still feels responsible for Scrap losing sight in his right eye after a particularly brutal fight. But their friendship has remained strong. Clint and Freeman display such a great chemistry that you actually feel like they've been friends for over twenty years. Well, I did at least. They sound like an old married couple at times, arguing over silly things like the holes in Scrap's socks or Frankie's less-than-jovial demeanor. The dialogue is funny and crisp without being overly eloquent. Exactly what you'd expect from a couple of guys who've been around boxing their whole lives.
Then there's the father/daughter relationship between Frankie and Maggie. Frankie has no relationship with his actual daughter - as evidenced by the fact that the letters he sends her every week always return un-opened and marked "Return to sender." We never really find out why his daughter hates him so much, but I assume his involvement in the boxing business kept him from being around her, and she hasn't forgiven him. Maggie's dad died when she was young, but Frankie reminds her a lot of him. Once he starts to train her, Frankie is really the only person she can depend on, and they form a strong bond that both were previously missing in their lives.
Hilary Swank, as Maggie, is impressive enough to finally make us all forget about The Core. I didn't expect to like her character very much, so I walked away pleasantly surprised. Her southern accent just sounded too fake in the trailers, but I got used to it, and I was shocked to find myself caring about Maggie. Note to Hilary: KEEP YOUR HAIR LONG! I like the movie's straight-forward message about how sometimes in life, having the heart and desire to do something isn't always enough. It's like Frankie says, "Show me a fighter who's nothing but heart, and I'll show you a man who's waiting for a beatin'." It's not a lesson a lot of people want to hear, but it's just the kick in the pants that a lot of people need.
I wasn't as pleased, however, with the movie's ending. And this is something that might cause a lot of people to be really upset. I can't say much because I'd give too much away, but I can say that a couple of characters make some decisions I don't condone. But it's done in a way not to be preachy. A character is even advised against taking a certain course of action, and then the audience is left to see what choice is made.
In a recent interview, Clint was asked about the controversial ending, and he replied, "I'm just telling a story. I don't advocate. I'm playing a part. I've gone around in movies blowing people away with a .44 magnum. But that doesn't mean I think that's a proper thing to do." That's honestly the best way to look at it.
Is the ending depressing? Sure. Do I have my own ideas of how the movie could've ended on a better note? Yep. But that's life. Reality isn't always pretty, and this movie does a good job of capturing that realism, regardless of whether we agree with certain decisions or not. You can choose to put a situation in God's hands, or you can attempt to solve it on your own. You just have to be willing to accept the consequences of your decision.
THE GIST
Million Dollar Baby is simple at its core - a movie that uses great performances to do a great job of storytelling. If you're a fan of anybody in the cast and you can handle something with a less-than-cheerful ending, then Million Dollar Baby will keep your interest. Just make sure you bring some Kleenex. But if you prefer to walk out of a movie whistling and tapping your feet, then I suggest looking elsewhere.
Oh, and guys, if you happen to notice a salty liquid substance forming around the rims of your eyes, then don't worry too much. It's like the Memphis Tigers football coach (Tommy West) says, "Men don't cry, their eyes sweat." Keep that excuse handy, and you'll be fine.