MillIon Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby, 2004
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Nominated for 7 Oscars, Won 4

Frankie Dunn has coached some amazing boxers in his time, but he "doesn't train girls". At least, that's what he tells Maggie Fitzgerald when she comes up to him after a match, when she joins his gym, and when she won't go away. After a little convincing from his old partner that helps him oversee his gym, Eddie Scrap-Irons Dupris, and when his best fighter leaves him for another coach and goes on to win World Champion, he finally agrees to take her own, and she tells him he'll never regret it.

I got this movie out from the public library. I got about halfway through it when it started acting up, and then just stopped working completely. At that point, while I searched for the rest online (shhh) and loaded it up, I thought this movie was so-so. Hilary Swank was pretty good, Morgan Freeman was great (when he had screentime), and Clint Eastwood... well, he's not really my favourite actor, though he also did a good performance.

The story was interesting, albeit progressing really slowly, with not too much action besides the odd might (which Maggie always seems to be losing, or owning). It was more talk than action, and I haven't decided whether that was a good thing or not. I wasn't exactly sure where this was going when we got to the halfway point.

It's hard to make any comments anymore because the second half of the movie completely makes up for the slow and drawn out first. This is where all the performances truly shine. Swank blew me with her performance, as did Eastwood. Though Morgan Freeman, who won an Oscar for this performance, didn't have a whole lot of screen time.

The lighting, also, I thought was interesting in this film. I know that's kind of an odd thing to remark upon, but I really noticed it. Many times, faces were shadowed while bodies had light cast upon them, or half faces were illuminated, and half weren't, or only one characters could be seen. It was an interesting technique.

I'm not sure what else to say about this film because if I say anything else, I would spoil so much of it. This is a tough rate because the 2 halves of the movie were so different, and I felt so differently about the two of them. I'm sorry I can't say more about this film, but this is a spoiler-free blog!

The only thing I was say more is, I haven't cried harder in any film. Yet. But I am, slightly, a movie-crier.

Overall, the film was an okay one. It's definitely not my favourite movie, not even my favourite boxing movie (The Fighter was just really good, sorry), but it had some great performances, looked really great, had an interesting story, and had potential, though I think it could've been done better, though I do applaud the ending, which was fantastically done.

Rating: C+

Fight Night

So what’s the deal with actors playing drug addicts that brings out the best in them? Nicolas Cage gave his best performance playing an alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas. Leonardo Di Caprio and Mark Wahlberg in The Basketball Diaries showed how easy it was for the young to get into taking drugs. Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting is legendary. Erica Christensen is in Traffic with her best role to date. Requiem for a Dream had great performances by its drug taking cast. Anne Hathaway playing a recovering addict out of rehab in Rachel Getting Married was nominated for an Oscar. Now, we have Christian Bale playing a crack addict in a role that just takes the movie to a whole new level.

In my book, The Fighter is Bale’s film. His physical transformation from a well built Batman to a washed out ex-boxer on crack is commendable, but no surprise considering how seriously Bale has taken his roles in the past and done similarly for The Machinist.

The story is simple enough with Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward, a boxer who has lost his last few fights and is now looking to get back in the ring and retain his glory. Christian Bale as Dicky Eclund is Micky’s half-brother and trainer whose addiction to crack is interfering with the training. Alice Ward (Malissa Leo) is their controlling mother and manager and Amy Adams plays Mark Wahlberg’s love interest. More than the story what keeps the audience interested is the dynamics of the family and the complex relationships that emerge out from their interactions. It’s a close knit family (with a number of sisters) and everyone seems to be interfering in everyone’s life. Especially Micky’s since he is the bread earner. The supporting cast simply shines in every way.

Mark Wahlberg is excellent as the tormented “Fighter” who cannot decide what he wants in life. He wants his family, but knows they are on a path that will lead to his career doom. He loves his girlfriend who is up front against his family and makes him realize what he is losing in life by living it according to them. The story is equally about his transformation from being a boy who does everything his mother and brother says to become a man who can think for himself and knows what is right for him and his family. He finally is able to emerge out of the shadow of his family and that for him is probably as important as winning a fight.   

The movie has great music and David O. Russell’s direction is brilliant. The final fight scene is so brutal, but is so amazingly picturised that it places you right in the middle of the ring.

In the end, I am happy to say that after a long time I can finally give a movie a 5/5 star rating. Go Watch It Now!

Thank you.