Good, but not great film

Rating: 6/10 (7 February 2005)

Million Dollar Baby is getting a lot of press, and not completely undeservedly so. It's certainly not a mainstream film, perhaps even more distressing than Closer. As one would expect, the movie is brilliantly acted and directed with much skill. Once again watching Eastwood and Freeman play off of one another is a treat, and Hilary Swank excels as well. Million Dollar Baby is, throughout most of the film, understated. The poverty level of the bulk of the characters is done so with subtlety, though it cannot be ignored. The touch of Freeman's narration being a letter to Eastwood's daughter is well done.
The most glaring issue with the film is the reality of the fight scenes and, particularly, the illegal shots by the character named "Blue". As many likely know, numerous illegal tactics may be employed in small club fights. However, the tactics that Blue employed were supposed to be taking place in sanctioned, championship level matches. That is terribly unrealistic. World championship sanctioned bouts are held under a microscope. Aside from the referee there are judges at ringside and officials from the boxing commission. Blue would have long been disqualified and/or suspended for her continued illegal actions. A shot like the one she threw at Swank's character going unrecognized in a championship level bout would be not unlike had the BC ignored Tyson biting off Holyfield's ear. Aside from that, as skilled a manager as Eastwood's character was supposed to be and having already acknowledged Blue's many illegal tactics, I imagine he'd have advised his fighter, "This is a cheap shot artist, you don't take your eyes off of her until her ass is sitting on that stool!"
Those flaws are not meant to detract from the telling of a story, however. The ending of the film and Maggie's eventual death are a bit overdrawn. Nonetheless, the story is well told and the focus of the relationship between Eastwood and Swank is far from lost. All in all, this is a good film. 6/10.