By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Anthony Mackie | Clint Eastwood | Hilary Swank | Jay Baruchel | Margo Martindale | Mike Colter | Morgan Freeman
Year: 2004
Diane says: ** SPOILERS ALERT! **
“There was a thread a couple of weeks ago about all movies being good (for their intended audience). If they are, why do we need Chlotrudis? And speaking of bad movies…..
“I don’t know if Janet is going to report, so I will say for both of us that we really disliked MILLION DOLLAR BABY. I’ve lost
some of my virulence in the intervening week, but the movie hasn’t improved. Just the kind of film that calls for snide remarks whispered to your seat mate. GIRLFIGHT did it so much better.
“From my/our list of complaints:
- Maggie makes it to the top awfully quickly and easily. You don’t get a sense of what an accomplishment this is for her, and how money affects (should have affected) her life, or her trainer’s.
- Paralysis development is telegraphed halfway through. What about all those industry folks who claimed Christopher Reeve as their best friend? Hot on the heels of Robin Williams apostrophizing Reeve at the Golden Globes, the Academy chooses for Best Movie a film which accepts a quadraplegic’s life as not worth living. Bizarre.
- Light and shadow portraits are used way too frequently.
But: Morgan Freeman gives a nuanced and funny performance in a Jiminy Cricket role. 1 cat.”
Bruce says: “**SPOILERS**
“America has had a long love affair with boxing and Hollywood has always taken the opportunity to use the drama of the sport either as a means unto itelf or as a backdrop for social commentary. RAGING BULL, SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, GIRLFIGHT, THE BOXER, FIGHT CLUB, BODY AND SOUL, THE GREAT WHITE HOPE and ROCKY are all successful boxing films that attack the subject from slightly different angles. The first two are biopics. Although GIRLFIGHT has gender similarity to MILLION DOLLAR BABY, the focus is more on difficulties of family life. THE BOXER is more about politics than boxing. FIGHT CLUB is an allegory. BODY AND SOUL is a morality tale. THE GREAT WHITE HOPE explores racism. ROCKY is a pumped-up feel good film. MILLION DOLLAR BABY is a melodramatic cautionary tale involving major moral issues.
“Unlike some of his aging contemporaries, Clint Eastwood is still improving his craft. MILLION DOLLAR BABY is a film with a million things going for it. MYSTIC RIVER, his last film, was remarkable save for the ridiculous script. Unfortunately, the script for MILLION DOLLAR BABY, although an improvement, still is the weakest point of the film. The acting is understated and uniformly superb. The film has a definite style – it is well paced and controlled. Tom Stern’s cinematography is perfectly matched to the tone of the film.
“Maggie Fitzgerald (Hillary Swank) is a loser who decides she wants to box. In the boxing world she is over the hill, closer in age to boxers that are retiring, not looking to start a career. Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) runs the Hit Pit a third rate training gym that at best has produced some second rate contenders. He is deeply religious but hasn’t a clue as to how religion should be integrated into his messed up life. His daughter refuses to have contact with him. Frankie attends mass with frightening regularity to the disgruntlement of Father Horvak, a cranky, unsympathetic priest who talks more like a Hit Pit denizen than a man of the cloth. Eddie (Morgan Freeman) is a former boxer who lives on premises and, if one had to come up with a title, might be called a maintenance man. He is a failed fighter who was injured before he reached the championship level, held back by Frankie who didn’t think he was ready. He is Frankie’s only friend.
“Urged on by Eddie after losing his big up-and-coming fighter to a fast talking promoter, Frankie decides to train Maggie. Soon she is winning fights and is a contender in the big time circuit. They go to Europe and become famous. Frankie gives her new robes and a new name to go along with it. Alas, when the million dollar match finally comes along Maggie becomes permanently disabled. Her brightest prospect is to live life as a blinking, whispering vegetable. Frankie, who has found the daughter he always wanted, has trouble letting go – both his emotions and his religion get in the way.
“Some scenes near the film’s end are corny and unnecessary. What a shame. The lion’s share is sublime. 4.5 cats”