Disappointment: Ruined by Bad Ending

Rating: 3/10 (8 January 2005)

I'll avoid spoilers at the beginning of this review. MDB was well-acted and directed and had me interested in the story up until the "twist," which took the film in a different direction for the final 45 minutes.
An important element in a good film is being able to make the viewer care about and sympathize with the protagonists. MDB lost me and I stopped caring about the main characters because of some of the decisions that they made near the end of the film. MDB tries to be a drama, but a number of unrealistic scenes make it play more like a melodramatic comic book. One scene, in particular, involving Morgan Freeman, is laughable in its lack of believability. In the end, the film comes off as being preachy. Out of the blue, it tackles a controversial societal topic and tries to force its point of view upon the audience. In doing so, it betrays the integrity of the film and ruins everything good that had built up to that point. The last half hour was torturous to watch and just dragged on at a needlessly slow pace.
***SPOILERS BELOW*** I get the feeling that the intention of MDB was to make a case for euthanasia all along and just use the boxing story as a disguise. I strongly disagree with the message of the film: that it is better to die as a championship boxer than to live a life in a wheelchair. The film is a slap in the face to all those who have achieved great things after paralysis, such as Christopher Reeve. Maggie could have used her celebrity status to go on to do great things and raise money and awareness for her condition, as Reeve did. Instead, she makes a terrible decision. I am truly baffled as to why some people applaud the films ending or are emotionally moved by Maggie's death.
On a final note, I am not against euthanasia, per se. I think it depends on the situation. For example, in "One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest," I was deeply moved when the Chief took Jack's life at the end, and I agreed with the decision. This was a case of someone who had a lobotomy and had his personality robbed of him. Maggie, on the other hand, had her personality and intellect still in tact, which is more important than her body.
***END SPOILERS***