Movie Review

Million Dollar Baby

"Boxers run towards the danger.? Those words are spoken by Eddie "Scraps" Dupree (Morgan Freeman), a former boxer denied the opportunity to make it all the way to title fight of his dreams in Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby.? The film is not up to par with Mystic River and isn?t like the last film Freeman and Eastwood teamed up for (the unforgettable Unforgiven). But "Baby,? much like "Friday Night Lights," pays tribute to the painstaking effort and dedication it takes for an athlete to be the best. Eastwood's film shines in that it shows the specific kind of person and heart it takes to attain the ultimate glory; and in the third act, how that person could not be able to cope with life any other way.

Scraps now works in a rundown old boxing gym, nursing new talent with the help of an old friend, trainer and manager Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood). Frankie has hit rock bottom. His wife and daughter have run out on him and his best fighter just signed with another manager. He has no one left except Scraps, primarily, in the case of the latter, because he was too afraid to take a chance and take his fighter to the next level, the title level.

Maggie (Hillary Swank) is just the opposite. The daughter of trailer trash, Maggie is a 31-year old waitress who has nothing left but to take a chance. She enters Frankie's gym every day, hitting the bag and constantly begging to be tutored by the great Frankie Dunn, who refuses to train her because she is a girl. Eventually her determination and heart win out, however, and Frankie gives her the basics to boxing and becomes her manager as well.

These characters eventually grow on you and with three actors as good as these, it?s no surprise. Hilary Swank is guaranteed an Oscar nomination. She is extremely endearing, flashing a winning display of enthusiasm, grit and fire, and is as root-able in the ring as she is likable in her quest for the best. We are really able to understand her way of thinking. Clint Eastwood is close behind, portraying a man who needs to learn how to believe again. And Freeman is perfect, showing the quiet dignity as a man who lost his dream and ended up cleaning up after a gym full of young punks. His Oscar clip definitely comes in one applause-worthy boxing sequence later on in the film.

In addition to being about personal glory for all these characters, the movie dives into the dance that is boxing. The script makes you pay particular attention to the boxer's feet, as they turn left, right, and how that all comes into play during the match. Eastwood does a fantastic job of directing these scenes, as he does with the rest of the movie as well. This film is a compelling effort, and from a guy like Eastwood you expect nothing less.

Craig's Grade: B+

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%