Drags a bit, but decent character study

Rating: 7/10 (3 February 2007)

Another sports movie. In fact, a boxing movie. A boxing movie with Hillary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. It's more of a drama, I feel, but it's still a sports movie, but a more individualistic one. Like boxing movies before it, it still has the training scenes, the fight scenes, etc. There is a quiet buildup as the characters reveal more and more about themselves. The movie isn't too sledgehammer, but at times it does put more in your face than it needs to. Like Morgan Freeman's running commentary track. Voice-over narration really isn't necessary for this movie and I think that it took away, rather than added to the film.
There is a whole subplot involving a priest and Clint Eastwood's character's faith (or lack thereof). If it had been ejected from the film, it would've only served to make the film tighter. It doesn't really complexify Frankie, nor does it substantially add to the film. Clint is a mostly talented actor and director (don't watch Blood Work, it's not very good). The cast does a good enough job.
The ending of the film (or, the falling action), dragged on a little too long and Eastwood is known for slightly languid pacing. He doesn't manage to pace any better here, but still, in the end, the film was probably the best of the airplane fare that I saw and I enjoyed it enough that I kept watching even though I was feeling quite sick. It could've been even better if the editing and direction were a little less kitchen-sink and plain, but not a bad movie. Not a happy one either, so don't watch it if you want to feel good. 7/10.