Million Dollar Baby (2004)

“If there’s magic in boxing, it’s the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.” – Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris

Number of Times Seen –  2 (28 Jun 2005 and 12 Sep 2013)

Brief Synopsis – A woman dreams of becoming a boxer and trains with a very difficult trainer to try and get to the top.

My Take on it – This is a movie about following your dreams and living with the decisions you make.

All 3 of the main characters played by Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hillary Swank are faced with tough decisions in life and must deal with the repercussions for the rest of their lives.

In a similar way that the real life main character of Jim Morris played by Dennis Quaid in The Rookie (2002), decided late in life to make a change in his career, Swank’s character of Maggie decides at the late age of 31 to become a boxer.  She isn’t sure if it will improve her life or not, but she wants to follow her dreams and simply does so.

This movie deals with many very interesting moral and ethical issues that people must deal with in life and it does so in a very delicate and “real” manner.

All 3 of the main actors were nominated for acting Oscars and Swank and Freeman both won, Eastwood had to settle for Best Director (Again) and Best Picture.  he has never managed to get the elusive Best Actor award but he sure has proven to be a great director.  With his Oscar win here, he became the oldest director to win this award at the age of 74.  Perhaps like Maggie, his aspirations for greatness only were realized once he made a career change.

Winner of 4 Oscars (listed above) out of 7. It lost Actor for Eastwood, Film Editing and adapted Screenplay.

Very powerful and moving film.

Bottom Line – Powerful and moving film about decisions in life and living with those decisions.  Very deserving of winning Best Picture. Eastwood, Freeman and especially Swank are all superb here.

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10)