Strong and solid. 8 / 10.

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2006)

When the Oscars rolled around, I had seen 'The Aviator' and was rooting for Martin Scorsese to finally win an Oscar. Instead, as your probably know, Eastwood won his second directing Oscar and so it took me a while to watch this film.
Not that I ever expected it to be bad. I enjoyed 'Mystic River' and everyone is talking about Clint's new creative surge in his old age. If he keeps on making movies like 'Mystic' and 'Million,' I just might forgive him for 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' one day. :)
If you haven't seen this movie, you've probably heard some general offhand comments about it.
1) It's very moving. 2) The ending is not what you expect. 3) Eastwood dusts off his acting muscles and turns it up.
Well it is moving. The last part takes a different turn and hits you in the stomach. Some may feel the ending is overly manipulative but I was able to get past it. The movie hinges on Maggie (Swank) and Frank's (Eastwood) interaction. As the movie draws to a close you really get sucked in as the story drives towards the grand finale.
The movie has boxing but is mainly about characters. Three people feeling the sands of time slipping through the hourglass for each of them and handling it in different ways. Some scenes - Frank in church, Dupris' (Freeman) 'people die every day' speech - really stick in your memory and heart. Everything about this film - the actors (Swank especially), the pacing, the script and the dialogue - float like a butterfly yet sting like a bee. This film is a wonderful examination of how glory and failure are often a heartbeat away from each other. Such is sport. Such is life.
And just one small comment. If you're holding back in seeing this film because you've heard some feminist grumblings, then you don't really have anything to fear. I can see why some are a bit annoyed but the movie is strong, respectful and emotionally mature.