"Girlie, tough ain't enough."

Rating: 10/10 (28 July 2012)

If there's a film that can rightly be called a masterpiece, this would be one. The acting, directing, cinematography, story telling, pacing - it's all superb with a terrific cast that grabs you from the opening moments and weaves it's magic right through to it's tearful conclusion. I'm coming to the realization that Eastwood as a director is now a master of the craft. "Mystic River" and "Gran Torino" are thoughtful and provocative films in their own right, and "Million Dollar Baby" is right up there with them as virtual capstones to a stellar Hollywood career. A world, no, an entire universe away from the uncredited actor who made his movie debut in "Revenge of the Creature" way back in 1955.
What's extraordinary here is that Eastwood could have taken the easy way out and filmed a female 'Rocky' picture, but that would have been way too clichéd. Instead, his protégé shows up destitute and pitiful, but with a desire to make something of herself with the only God given talent she's able to come to terms with. Hillary Swank is brilliant in the role of Maggie Fitzgerald, and if she never takes on another role, this Oscar winning performance would by itself recommend her as one of the premiere actresses of her day.
What one doesn't expect from the picture going in is the moral dilemma posed by Maggie's condition as a result of her match with Billie The Blue Bear (Lucia Rijker). This one forces you to confront your feelings about the ethical consequences of assisted suicide and doesn't let you off the hook. Frankie Dunn's (Eastwood) relationship with his parish priest paves the way throughout the story for a personal choice that will weigh on him for the rest of his days. As a fighter all his life, Frankie faces a confrontation that he'll have to meet head on, and does so out of loyalty to a person who may have started out as a nuisance, but wound up a devoted student and ultimately a friend.
I don't go out on a limb with very many top ratings on this board, but this one's a solid '10' with me. I've seen it three times now and it gets better and more powerful with each viewing. Though the general theme might recommend it as a boxing film, this one transcends the genre and puts it in a category all it's own. "Million Dollar Baby" is worth a million.