MILLION DOLLAR BABY

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Rated PG-13 (for violence, some disturbing images, thematic material and language). 133 minutes. Directed by Clint Eastwood (who also wrote the score). Written by Paul Haggis, based on stories from Rope Burns by F. X. Toole (Jerry Boyd).

This movie tells the story of three people: Hilary Swank plays Maggie, a hillbilly from Missouri, who’s been waitressing since she was 13 and wants to be a boxer because it’s the only thing that’s ever made her feel good. Clint Eastwood plays Frankie, her crusty trainer who runs a seedy gym in Los Angeles and reads poetry on the side. He’s dealing with his own demons from the past. And Morgan Freeman plays Scrap, a former boxer who was managed by Frankie into a title bout. Now he lives in a room at the gym and helps Frankie run the place.

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you know I get bored with movies where you know how it’s going to end after the first five minutes. That is NOT the case with this movie. The unexpected plot twist will leave you thinking (dare I say brooding) about it long after you leave the theater.

I love this movie for many reasons. First, at no time did I ever feel like the characters were actors playing a role. They seemed truly genuine – like people you might actually know in real life. Not only that, they really seemed to feel their roles deeply. You could feel the pain of Eastwood’s past and feel the drive of Swank, who noted that if she didn’t make it as a boxer, “I might as well go back home and buy a used trailer and get a deep fryer and some Oreos.”

Another reason I love this movie is because everything is understated, which brings even more impact to the characters and how their actions grow out of who they are.

A good example is when Scrap is sitting at a diner counter with Maggie, telling her about how he lost the sight in one eye during a fight, and how Frankie blames himself for not throwing in the towel. Maggie doesn’t nod, doesn’t say anything, just listens quietly with rapt attention at the words.

That kind of acting has a much greater impact than if she’d gotten excited or teary-eyed about it. That’s the way the entire movie is. You’re not sitting in a theater watching it – you’re drawn into the story so that you become a part of it. I'm a huge fan of all three of these actors, and Clint's storytelling abilities as a film-maker only become better with age.

THE WRAP-UP: This is a gem of a movie that’s riveting, uplifting, depressing, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The story is true, the characters genuine, and the plot believable. Things don’t always come together like that in a movie these days, but this one’s a winner in all respects.

THE SCORE: 4 out of 4 Reels.  

Jane's Reel Rating System:

One Reel – Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.

Two Reels – Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.

Three Reels – Pleasant. Something to talk about.

Four Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

Read my other reviews here.