Your average sports movie turns out in yet another drama

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2005)

Yet another little masterpiece by Clint Eastwood (Mystic River, Unforgiven). Still I'm wondering how long it will take him to get his Oscar for his acting...
The movie begins as your average sports movie, from which you can predict at the beginning what is going to happen - or should be happening if this was indeed your average sports movie, as they are very often produced in the United States (for example Miracle) Just when you think it's all clear, you'll get rudely awakened by a horrendous change of direction.
The little minor remark as from this point is that all speed leaves the movie, like a train where one pulls the emergency brakes. But, truth be told, from this point on acting really IS acting as well for Hilary Swank as well as for Clint Eastwood.
She, the boxer, who desperately wants but can't; he the trainer who can't admit and give in to his hurt and loneliness.
Did the movie deserve the Oscars? Depends, but Hilary Swank deserved this one more than the previous one (Boys don't cry). As for Morgan Freeman? Absolutely not, he has done better (The Shawshank Redemption), but it's good to see it as a token of appreciation from his peers Movie and directing? Yes, I suppose so, but then again... Clint Eastwood has done absolutely nothing wrong the past few years.
Euthanasia as a political correct item? Don't agree. But then again try to see it without the weight of the issue and see it as the right to live and die on one owns terms.
Controversial? Again, i don't agree. there have been better and more controversial movies about this issue; for example (Mar Adentro; which I experienced as more intense) What remains is the fact that this movie has been made with so much love and skill, and it shows! No further remarks about the movie itself.
... I only detested Lucia Ryker all of a sudden, and that's very strange, because I usually like to think of her as a very congenial person. ;-)