Million Dollar Baby - DVD review

Million Dollar Baby

Starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman

Rated PG-13

Why did I wait so long to see this movie? Because I don’t like boxing.  I didn’t realize that there was more to this movie than that – much more.  I now know why Hilary Swank held so much admiration for Clint Eastwood in her acceptance speech when she won the Academy Award for this movie. I never dreamed while watching this woman on Beverly Hills 90210 that she would ever amount to much as an actor, much less win two Oscars.  But, she deserves an Oscar for this performance.

Clint Eastwood plays the owner of a gym, Dunn, who also trains boxers – male boxers only, and who seems to have a winner on his hands.  He has been working with this boxer for 8 years, but thinks that this boxer needs a little more work. Trouble is, the boxer doesn’t want to wait any longer and leaves him for another manager. Morgan Freeman plays Scrap, Dunn, caretaker and friend – and seemingly conscience. He is also the narrator of the film.  Hilary Swank plays Maggie Fitzgerald, a girl who comes into Dunn’s all male gym, pays for a membership, and then won’t leave him alone about training.  She trains by herself, until Scrap gives her a few pointers.  When Dunn’s prize boxer leaves him, Dunn decides maybe he will take Maggie on, just until he can find her another trainer.

Dunn did not know what he was in for.  He did not know Maggie’s will or determination.  She trained and trained, until he finally decided to put her in a fight. She won – in the first round.  And she kept winning.  He decided to move her up in to the welterweight.  She keeps winning there.  He finally decides to let her take on top opponents. She beats one of them, and there’s only one left. I will leave the rest of that story and what happens for you to watch so as not to ruin the story.

Along the way, we learn somewhat about Dunn’s daughter and that he has no relationship with her. He keeps writing her, but she sends the letters back, unopened.  Dunn also learns of Maggie’s poor background and what she does for her ungrateful mother and sister and brother.  Dunn learns of the love she held for her late father.  Somewhere along the way, Maggie and Dunn become substitute father and daughter for each other, though neither of them come out and admit it.

This is a very powerful and moving movie.  It does move kind of slow at times, but it is worth it to the end.