A predictable affair, but moving all the same...

Rating: 9/10 (6 April 2005)

Million Dollar Baby
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a boxing coach who runs a modest back alley gym with Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), one of his former protégés. He spends most of his days writing letters to his estranged daughter that are returned unopened, heckling the local priest (Brian O'Byrne). Enter Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), a female boxer with a raw, promising talent, who wants to rise above her "white trash" background and train under the tutelage of Frankie. Frankie is at first reluctant, but soon warms to the woman, and helps make the breakthrough into the boxing world that Maggie has dreamt of for years. But when an unexpected and tragic event takes place, Frankie, Eddie and Maggie are forced to re-evaluate if Maggie has reached her full potential.
Undoubtedly, the first half of 'Million Dollar Baby' is a terribly predictable affair, utilising plot devices present in countless sports underdog dramas since the overrated Syllvester Stallone picture, 'Rocky'. There's no way past the fact that there really is nothing new here, but this well-worn material has found itself in the ring with a well-honed cast, and filmmaker Clint Eastwood. Eastwood has taken up directorial, producing and scoring duties, but, like his past twenty-four pictures, has left the screenplay to another: Paul Haggis (adapting stories from F.X. Toole's 'Rope Burns' books), a writer with a background in television, who has made an assured dramatic debut here.
It's also pleasing to see Clint Eastwood in an acting role, and his solid performance here is excellent! Hilary Swank is a wonderful actress! Morgan Freeman is also great!
~ 9/10 ~