A contradictory film

Rating: 5/10 (27 November 2010)

I expected to see an iconic film, an Oscar winning, perfect film. I was half wrong. I'll start with the positive aspects of this film. Hilary Swank was amazing, she defiantly deserved her Oscar as she played a strong, bold, fierce and determined female boxer fighting for her place in the boxing ring despite her gender. The film started of well and gradually grew more interesting as we saw the progression of Hilarys character coming from a hillbilly wanting to win her place in the boxing ring. That was the positive aspect of this film. However, there were aspects of the film which prevented this film from reaching perfection. Clint Eastwood disappointed me a little, his foul mouth was was offencive first of all. But what spooled it for me was the silly ending. Maggie (Hilary Swank) takes to a serious injury during her last fight breaking her spine or collar bone or something like that and she is now paralysed. After a few months she asks Frankie (Clint Eastwood) her trainer, to perform euthanasia so she can be at peace. He initially says no but later on he goes in the middle if the night and fulfils her wish and she dies. The end (with some depressing music) So basically Frankie murdered Maggie and in the film it glorifies euthanasia. Also the last part of the film contradicts what the whole film was about: determination and fighting for your place in the world. So what does she do: gives up. She doesn't practise what she preaches. This really frustrates me and makes me hate this film. So its hard for me to love it completely. I love it for its great acting and emotion, but hated it for its contradictory nature and glorifying a very controversial matter. Thats why i've given it 5 stars, half love it and half hate it.