Million Dollar Baby Review
by Susan Granger (ssg722 AT aol DOT com)December 15th, 2004
Susan Granger's review of "Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)
Actor/producer/composer/director Clint Eastwood delivers a knockout punch with this uncompromising boxing-ring drama about faith, trust and redemption. Grizzled Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) has spent a lifetime training and managing fighters, teaching them his cardinal rule: always protect yourself. Taking that advice to heart, he's emotionally distanced himself from everyone after a painful estrangement from his daughter, although he faithfully attends daily Mass, exchanging barbs with the priest (Brian O'Bryne).
Frankie's only friend is Eddie "Scrap" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), an ex-boxer who tends his shabby gym, The Hit Pit. Then he meets scrappy, spunky Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) who is determined to be a contender. Frankie tells her she's too old and that he doesn't train "girlies" but she's persistent. Eventually won over by her sheer determination, Frankie begrudgingly starts training Maggie who, surprisingly, turns out to be a natural. A subtle father-daughter relationship gradually grows and his paternal devotion even surmounts a jolting, agonizing tragedy.
As an actor, Eastwood has never been better, delivering a crusty, heartfelt performance that should earn him a well-deserved Oscar nomination. As director, he elicits equally memorable stints from Hilary Swank ("Boys Don't Cry"), who seems assured of an Oscar berth, and Morgan Freeman, who certainly deserves a Supporting nod. And Eastwood composed the haunting score. Also credit veteran TV writer Paul Haggis' script, based on "Rope Burns" by fight trainer Jerry Boyd writing as F.X. Toole. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Million Dollar Baby" is a powerful 10, packing a mighty emotional wallop. One of the year's 10 Best.
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