Today’s quick review: Million Dollar Baby. Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), an aspiring boxer with nothing to lose, wants nothing more than to box for Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), an experienced trainer and manager. Thanks to her persistence and a little help from Frankie’s friend Eddie (Morgan Freeman), Frankie agrees to take Maggie on. But even with Frankie’s training, Maggie has her work cut out for her if she’s going to make it to the top.
Million Dollar Baby is a sports drama from director Clint Eastwood. Million Dollar Baby follows Maggie, a spirited but untrained boxer from a poor background, as she fights her way towards the world title. Guiding her along the way are Frankie, a cantankerous trainer overdue for a champion, and Eddie, a retired boxer and Frankie’s oldest friend. The movie offers a sober look at the world of boxing, the drive to succeed, and the price of success.
Million Dollar Baby earns the audience’s respect bit by bit. No single line, plot point, or character defines the movie, but each moment builds on the last until the audience cares deeply about the story. Maggie and Frankie are remarkably well developed characters, complete with noble traits and human faults, and their nuanced relationship forms the backbone of the movie. They are backed by a dramatic story with potent themes and a couple of surprises.
The film’s quality comes with a price: Million Dollar Baby is an extremely heavy watch. The story mixes uplifting moments with harsh realism. For every victory that Maggie earns, there’s a broken dream waiting in the shadows. Frankie is haunted by past mistakes and the prospect of repeating them, Eddie still has to live with the injury that ended his career, and Maggie must grapple with not only her boxing career but her future beyond the sport.
The end result is a powerful drama with top-notch craftsmanship. Million Dollar Baby has everything it needs in terms of acting, writing, direction, and overall polish to tell the story it wants to in an effective way. Those looking for an idealistic underdog story should steer clear. Those willing to take the defeat with the triumph should look no further. For a more uplifting story about boxing, check out Rocky or its sequels.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for honest, effective drama.