Can Eastwood Help Her Find Hope For Life Again?

Rating: Null/10 (8 June 2006)

MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004) ***** A knockout of a film that actor-director-producer-musical scorer Clint Eastwood has established onto his resumé. Bold, original, and touching, it tells of an older, hardened box trainer (played by Eastwood) who decides to train an integral, younger woman (played by Oscar-winner Hilary Swank) to become a renown boxer. The relationship forms because of a former boxer (played by Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman) who encourages Eastwood into training her. But it is after one near-death blow in a match that paralyzes Swank from ever boxing again - the only thing she strives to achieve in - and from which point, her determination turns into disappointment, and her seemingly uncompromising enthusiasm for living her dream becomes ephemeral. Now, can Eastwood, whose care for his student eventually becomes existent, help her find hope for life again?