I do not really know where exactly to start with this review, as this is my all time favorite film. It has been from the very first time that I saw it and was just amazed by the acting, the story and just the whole film in general. I also must admit that before this I had not seen very much of Clint Eastwood’s work (yes I know that was very bad, but that was 5 years ago now).
A sports movie about a female who is aspiring to become a boxer, but a few things are standing in her way, she is getting older, she has never been trained before, she has no trainer and she has no money. Her name is Maggie (Hilary Swank). She goes to watch boxing matches, and approaches Frankie (Clint Eastwood) and asks him to train her, but he just tells her “I don’t train girls”. Maggie is very persistent and keeps asking him, but then starts trying to train herself. Eddie (Morgan Freeman) helps Maggie by showing her some techniques. Then not long after this Maggie manages to convince Frankie to train her, but he is adamant that he will just train her then find her a manager to take her on. Which he eventually does become her manager, and really wants her to do well and helps her out so much. It really is just fantastic. She actually starts to get quite a bit of money, and puts all towards a house. Which she then buys for her family, which they do not want it. Her family are really just horrible to her. In a match for $1 million with Blue Bear, an accident happens which leaves Maggie paralyzed from the neck down. She pleads with Frankie to switch of the machine as she really cannot live like that at all. Because she cannot do anything for herself.
I have always been involved in sport and always played a sport. I can understand the passion and wanting to perform and participate in the sport. I think that is one of the reasons I really love this movie, because I can understand how she feels wanting to succeed more than anything and that is what she wants to do, no matter what anyone says to her. She really wants to be the best, and achieve something in her life through boxing. The adrenaline rush of doing well and wanting to win, I can understand all of that and really felt for Maggie throughout the movie.
The other part of this movie I really love is the relationship between Maggie and Frankie, which has to be the replacement to Frankie of his daughter that he had not seen for years and that he still writes to all of the time. Also Frankie being a father figure in Maggie’s life as her father died when she was younger. Frankie calls Maggie “Mo Cuishle” which at the end we find out means “My darling, my blood”. I just found this to be a fantastic relationship, after Frankie would not train Maggie to begin with and did not want anything to do with her, but I think that has to be because she reminds him of his daughter.
Clint Eastwood likes to have a few different subject matters in his movies. One being religion and another being a man who is tortured about the way his family life is, this character being played by Eastwood himself. Million Dollar Baby is no different, the conversations between Eastwood and the priest were just hilarious at times.
But overall I just adore this movie so much and it really is my favorite of all time. Which is such a massive statement to make but it is so true. Nothing compares to Million Dollar Baby. It totally deserved all of the Oscars it received.
