 | Million Dollar Baby Director: Clint Eastwood Rated: M Now Showing  If you see a preview for a film that suggests the plot goes something along the lines of; a hard done by white trailer trash thirty-two year old woman, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), wants nothing more than to have a shot at the world welter weight boxing title and, through the initially reluctant help of a washed up grizzly old trainer and run down gym owner, Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), gets given that opportunity - would you exercise some caution and stay away?Knowing what I know now, I must say that not only am I glad to have seen 'Million Dollar Baby' but I am also still, many days after, deeply affected and very much saddened by this exceptionally portrayed story that has a heart as big as the central character's. To convince others to get along and experience for themselves why this film has left such an indelible mark on me without giving away too much of what happens is truly an impossibility. First up, forget that it's a film about boxing and allow yourself to enter the tragic coexisting worlds of Maggie and Frankie, as well as that of Scrap (played by a suitably resigned Morgan Freeman), a wizened old ex-boxer who never realised his own dreams before losing an eye in a fight. Maggie, who has worked as a waitress since she was thirteen, knows that she wants to be a fighter despite having very little idea why. She immediately introduces us to her back-wood trailer park upbringing by ashamedly telling of her welfare cheating mother, unwed teen mum sister, redneck brother in jail and, as if to complete the set, an absent father. That she wants no sympathy, combined with her unfailing determination, is the only rationale for her sketchy ambitions provided here. Swank has not been so convincingly proud and at the same time emotionally jarring since her 1999 part in 'Boys Don't Cry'. Frankie also has a troubled past and has learnt over the years to remain guarded. Not too much of his story is revealed but it's clear that its one etched with pain and much regret and, with that same prominent twitchy-gruffness that gave signature to his most commanding character, (Dirty) Harry Callahan - in the 'seventies. This, together with the fact that every one of his seventy-five years is openly displayed like a badge of honour, means Eastwood breathes some well grounded earthiness into his role. Bounced along with a few extra humorously placed, but no less disturbed characters, and supported by some gritty dialogue that defies being just simple jargon, 'Million Dollar Baby' is one film that does promise to take you to that much coveted title fight, but will then knock you clean out in one fell punch.  | |
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine