Movie Review: Million Dollar Baby
A Million Dollar Baby is a passionate and gritty account of a woman's strong desire to succeed at her dream. Maggie Fitzgerald's dream was to become the best fighter she could be, and nothing would break her determination, not even harsh and discouraging words from both strangers and those closest to her.
The movie presents many real emotions and bleak life situations, making the story believable and gripping. Amid Frankie Duff's gruff outer shell of guarded emotion, for example, lies so much love and concern for other human beings, including his first female protege, Maggie. In a way, this compassion loses him money and status, for he is not willing to put his prize boxers in risky situations, an unavoidable consequence such a profession demands.
After much persistence, Frankie agrees to train Maggie, and her dream of becoming a fine boxer finally comes to fruition. Under Frankie's close care and through Maggie's constant obsessive practice and devotion, she quickly rises to the top of her field. Eventually Frankie is faced with the dilemma of facing his now precious student off with the champion, a woman known for breaking the rules with cruel and potentially lethal strikes. One must wonder if this "champion" ever would have reached the top if she fought fair.
Frankie finally decides that he cannot squash the dream of this woman he cares for like a daughter, and lets her challenge the boxing champion. When it appears Maggie is close to overcoming her savage foe, the monster turns on her after the bell rang, and the worst possible outcome becomes reality. As the result of this heinous act, Maggie is... well, I'll let you watch the movie to hear the rest! I hate to spoil the ending.
The last scenes of the movie deal sharply with deep and desperate human emotion. Though neither the ending nor outcome is ideal or glorious, there is beauty in the arrangement. Through the pain and the newly discovered brokenness and dispelled fatherly love for Maggie, Frankie comes to terms with his own reality. It is not for certain what his end will be; the audience is left to decide.
All three of the primary actors, Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank, and Morgan Freeman, did an amazing job of portraying their characters and various dilemmas. The movie went on to win 4 Academy Awards, a much deserved honor in my opinion. A great movie.