Million Dollar Baby

I watched this film on DVD way after its release and its sucess at the Oscars. To be honest I wasn't too bothered about watching it and so was totally shocked when I realised how good it really was.

The Charatcters I though were great, Clint Eastwood plays a convincing role as a coach who has had his day but is forced into taking on another boxer with Hilary Swank. He clearly has issues with the loss of contact with his daughter and as time goes on you see the relationship between him and Hilary Swank turn more from coach & boxer to more of a father & daughter relationship.

The bond between them grows increasingly strong as Hilary's career progresses, Clint has futher rejection from his daughter and Hilary receives no support from her so-called family.

The tragic ending is one of total shock, as you just don't see it coming, the end is dragged out for Hilary and the events during the end of the movie shock and upset you.

As for Danger, well we all know a Danger - great character, made me smile, although at times that smile went along with a tear in my eye.

Morgan Freeman could have had a bigger role for me though, as I think that he is a superb actor. However, if his role had been bigger, it would have distracted from the relationship between 'the boss' and Maggie, which probably would not have worked the same.

I found myself thinking about the film long after I had watched it, a very moving film which I do think deserved the recognition it received.

I could say more about the good and bad events throughout the film, but instead I will recommend that you watch it instead.

I Bought Million Dollar Baby from Woolworths Channel Islands mail order. Expected a lot better. Have been a Clint Eastwood watcher for many, many years, through the 60s/70s/80s/90s. Never really knew whether he was a truly great actor or not until "Unforgiven". From then on I classed him as such. A bit like John Wayne until you saw "The Searchers" - then you realised the true greatness.

The dark DVD cover does not even look like Eastwood, and sorry, Sunday Times but it's certainly not "one in a million". Morgan Freeman plays a character that is solid, but could have been exploited to far greater effect. Clint is almost a poor copy of Burgess Meredith's stunning performance alongside Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky". We all have to grow old, and Clint should have faced up to the fact that his image is not now strong enough to play a 'leading man'. His physique is superb, but his acting is masked by the face of an elderly gent who has spent far too long outdoors in the Sunshine States.

Hilary Swank is a wonderful actress in a business that is currently bursting with wonderful actresses, so this could be the high point for her (I hope not). Maggie Fitzgerald is a totally convincing character that if you could reach out to her you'd buy her everything she needed for her boxing ambitions. The ending is tragic and steals away everything you as the viewer hoped for Maggie. The final ending is an ill conceived plot that Eastwood forced himself into. Add to this what sounds like the same guitarist in the background as "Unforgiven" (playing a very similar melody) and also the same screen title Company and you realise, casting all loyalties and emotions aside, that this movie certainly was not worthy of it's industry achievements.

Million Dollar Baby - I saw this not knowing what to expect or seeing it advertised, and I was absolutely blown away by it. It has superb acting and a storyline different from any other boxing movie and even an ending that didn't leave a dry eye in the cinema. All of these made this one of the best films I've seen in years. Although not nominated for a BAFTA, it will definitely sweep the Oscars.