Powerful Boxing Movie

Rating: 10/10 (18 January 2005)

Great story, great acting, great characters; Million Dollar Baby has it all. One of the most solidly entertaining sports movies of any sport, this one is a true winner.
Clint Eastwood shows why he is one of Hollywood's all-time great actors and directors. Million Dollar Baby is one of those movies that can be discussed for hours.
Maggie, played by a wonderful Hilary Swank, is determined to be trained by Frankie Dunn (Clint). Frankie doesn't train girls, and he sluffs her off. It isn't until Eddie (Morgan Freeman) who manages the boxing gym for Frankie gives Maggie some help and encouragement, that Frankie decides to take her on.
Frankie is taken by Maggie's enthusiasm, will, and determination. When he meets her family and realizes that the only person in the world that she can trust is him, he pledges to see her through and develops a strong admiration and love for her.
The movie tightens even more when tragedy strikes, and the closeness of the three characters is even more pronounced. All the characters stay true to form; Maggies family as opportunistic, greedy, trailer trash; Frankie as Maggie's best friend, and Frankie as the steadying influence throughout the movie.
Exceptionally strong acting by all the stars, which is to be expected. It is no coincidence that the narration of the movie by Morgan Freeman could remind one of another classic that he narrated, "The Shswshank Redemption". The supporting characters, especially Jay Baruchel playing a very entertaining "Danger", did a wonderful job as well.
Million Dollar Baby is as inspirational as "Rocky", but with better acting and a more powerful ending. You don't have to be a boxing fan to by overwhelmed by Million Dollar Baby.