Million Dollar Baby

UK Release Date: 14 January 2005

Certification: 12A

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, Hilary Swank

Rating: 88%

A dramatic, unconventional sports movie.

Review:

This is my second watch of Million Dollar Baby and that really benefited my viewing experience because I first viewed the film as a sports movie but it's much more than that. Instead of telling the typical underdog tale seen in Rocky, Clint Eastwood focuses on the phenomenal performances and the gut-wrenching story, that is at points tough to watch. 

Million Dollar Baby is a character study and so the acting had to be great to entertain the audience, and each of the three main cast took their performances to another level. Hilary Swank perfectly encapsulates the 'You can do whatever you put your mind to' mindset embodied by Maggie Fitzgerald. She's dogged, determined and most importantly likeable. Swank, of course, won her second Oscar (after Boys Don't Cry) for her role but I think it's criminal that she didn't shoot to Hollywood stardom after Million Dollar Baby. Veterans, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman effortlessly match Hilary Swank's performance. The unspoken friendship the two have with each other is a real highlight of the movie. We see two men struggling to deal with the emotional trauma built up over the years in completely different ways. Freeman's voice overs also convey where we are in the story without feeling lazy or expository which was a nice touch. 

As well as brilliantly acting in the movie, Clint Eastwood also directs and composes the score. Whilst his gritty, rough directorial style is excellent his score is fantastic. 'Blue Morgan' is an utterly beautiful piece of music that leaves the movie on such a perfectly emotional note. 

[Spoiler] When the boxing is on screen it's great but that's the best aspect of the film, it's not about the boxing. As soon as Maggie breaks her neck and becomes paralysed both the tone and purpose of Million Dollar Baby switch massively. There is still 45 minutes left with Maggie on a hospital bed and the movie is as equally captivating, if not more. The movie transcends into an exploration of the ethics and morals behind suicide and that's extremely powerful. This leaves the ending of Million Dollar Baby as somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster.