Don't read this review. Or any other.

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2005)

If you have not seen this movie, and you have any intention of doing so, see it right now. Stop reading. Reading about it will spoil it.
I make no claims about the brilliance or mediocrity of this film, nor about Eastwood's direction, his acting, Swank's acting, Freeman's acting, or anything else. Simply: if you find out too much about it, or become biased, either for or against it, you will be very sad indeed when you actually see it.
This film follows in the footsteps of Big Fish, Mulholland Dr., and In the Bedroom, in the sense that they need to be experienced before they can be discussed. Talking about the plot points of Mulholland Dr. without having seen it will take away the visceral experience that Lynch has created. Similarly, while Million Dollar Baby might be similar to /blank/, or follow the plot of /blank/, or be "about" /blank/, you have to see it with an open and uncluttered mind to understand why.
Many viewers, understandably, only see movies after reading all the reviews of it first. But, this one time, I ask you: take it on faith. See the movie. You'll be glad you did.