Lingers in your mind for days and days

Rating: 10/10 (24 March 2005)

Clint Eastwood seems to be one of only a few film makers around with any confidence. The confidence comes from the story he is telling, which he fully believes in and the way he tells it. So many directors today seem to use flashy editing and visuals in order to keep the attention of an audience with a rapidly decreasing attention span and also to cover up the flaws in whatever story is being told.
Eastwood knows what a good story he is telling and therefore he allows the story to dictate the visual style and not vice - versa.
What we then get is a film which is beautiful in every conceivable way from the production design, to the cinematography, and the performances. Morgan Freeman is not only one of the greatest actors alive, but also one of the greatest narrators. His narration for the film is restrained yet very powerful. It adds another dimension to a film already on the right path.
From the beginning to the very end of the film I cared very much for the characters and the different spiritual journeys they take through the story. This is when I noticed what films are meant to be. 'Million Dollar Baby' reminds us how entertained and enthralled we can be from watching a good story with characters we care for and are interested in. Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, and Hilary Swank give the most moving and authentic performances in many years. The flawless script by Paul Haggis and the always assured direction from Clint Eastwood elevate this film to a masterpiece. After seeing this film it lingered in my mind for days. This is what great films do and Million Dollar Baby is no exception.