Million Dollar Baby - A Movie Review

Never stop the fight to find your greatest passion.

Competing in a boxing match, Million Dollar Baby was released to theaters in 2004. Maggie Fitzgerald refuses to stand down at her passion to become a professional boxer. Reluctantly, Frankie Dunn teaches her the secrets and keys to boxing. Little do they know of the exciting journey ahead.

For anyone who is searching for the right inspiration to finding your passion, Million Dollar Baby is a remarkable film that conquers breathtaking abilities. That being said, this film falls on a major downside spreading a negative message that nixes the direction Million Dollar Baby was distributing.

Hilary Swank excelled in her exhilarating performance as the persistent Maggie Fitzgerald. Having gone through a lot of tragedies, Maggie is a fierce young woman who knows what she wants. Like Maggie, Swank went through intense boxing training for the film gaining 20 pounds of muscle! Swank connected to her character to the point that she hid a serious bacterial infection from the crew so she would not hold up filming.

I like it when directors take on roles in their own films. Only Clint Eastwood understood the inner conflict of Frankie Dunn. Refusing to train Maggie because she is a woman, Frankie reluctantly pursues a training course. Maggie opens his mind, but still, he remains closed off, swallowing his pride.

Morgan Freeman is outstanding in any role that he is given. Originally, Freeman was supposed to be cast as Frankie Dunn. That would have been a fascinating role to see him take on. Instead, he plays a character of his usual trademark, passing along moral advice to both Frankie and Maggie. I felt that his character took away from the main action at times, but he conveyed a deep narration throughout the film.

Other credits to include are Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Brian F. O’Byrne, Margo Martindale, Riki Lindhome, Michael Pena, and many other incredible actors to perform in intense boxing matches.

Realism is mastered. The boxing matches are the best parts of the film. I am most impressed with the excellent cinematography. I actually felt like I was at a real boxing match. Seeing these people fight in grueling matches actually made me wince. These scenes were directed very well and are the highlight of Million Dollar Baby.

That being said, the film completely takes a turn in the story. Million Dollar Baby changes into a different tale that is melancholy. All the characters in the film feel very out of character, but most importantly Maggie. From the very beginning, Maggie is a fighter who never lets anything get in her way. Instead, she gives up hope entirely.

Clint Eastwood directed a magnificent film, achieving incredible talents and direction from his actors. However, there is a noticeable filler that does not need to be in the film. People who are meant to be antagonists come off as silly and unrealistic. The movie is about Maggie and Frankie. Characters that are not relevant to the story are given scenes.

I enjoyed this film up until the final half. Instead of conveying the powerful messages about never giving up, you’re never too old to start anything, and running after your dreams, Million Dollar Baby falls on a downer ending executing the wrong message entirely that actually upset some viewers in the subject matter.

It’s tough for me to recommend this, but Million Dollar Baby is a film that you have to see. Cinematically it is outstanding. The direction is phenomenal and it highlights the acting talents of Hilary Swank. Be aware that the last half of the film is sad.