Great film, always entertaining and very powerful at times.

Rating: 10/10 (2 July 2007)

Million Dollar Baby is a rare kind of film in that it manages to express so much more than what's happening on the screen and in the soundtrack. Even though the film generally has a very calm pace, it is never boring and although a number of scenes are very quiet and with little movement, they're always engaging and often quite powerful.
Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood all deliver great performances and manage to give their characters a depth that few movies can match. The script flows well and gives the characters room to breathe and take on a life of their own. It also has plenty of humour which is always welcome in a drama. The music by Clint Eastwood (he composes music as well!) is simple but extremely effective. It has the weight of someone working comfortably within their range rather than someone limited by some kind of inexperience. It enhances the impact of the movie and never distracts.
The boxing scenes are very well directed although as many have pointed out, Million Dollar Baby is not so much a boxing film as a film about a boxer. The third act is especially well made and is very powerful and beautiful. Those that suggest Million Dollar Baby is making some kind of stance on certain controversial topics are missing the point completely. It is about the characters, the decisions they have to make and why they choose to do what they do. Arguably it is all about love.
This is probably the best movie of the year (even though The Incredibles was also excellent) and everyone should definitely see it!