Million Dollar Baby

USA, 2004

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Starring:

Hilary Swank
Clint Eastwood
Morgan Freeman

Matt: A-

Adam: B

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I expected to like this but not as much as I actually did. I found it a wholly moving film which made me well up three times (though not, actually, at the end), most notably when Maggie (Hilary Swank)'s hard work to be able to afford something she so desperately wants. This moment really hits the emotional g-spot because of Eastwood's clever direction (he includes a superb little scene hinting at the sacrifices Maggie is prepared to make to realise her dreams), and there are more to follow.

Of course, this is just the kind of fare Oscar loves (typically about a decade later than should be the case) but whereas sometimes Oscar is so far wide of the mark it is untrue, the accolades heaped on this are merited. Swank is superb although Eastwood, often so mesmerically brilliant, disappoints here, although he gets better as the film goes on. However, the stand out performance is (as it so often is) by the peerless Morgan Freeman, whose delicate, lava, voice meanders hauntingly through the film driving the narrative with a similar effectiveness to The Shawshank Redemption. Truth be told, I could watch Freeman all day, so good he is. An actor who manages to invest every scene he's in with charm, grace, charisma, subtlety and - vitally - pathos. The scene in Shawshank when his parole is refused only just didn't make it into my Top 25. Quite simply one of the greatest living actors.

There are some negative aspects. Some of the supporting characters are shallow cliches (particularly all the members of Maggie's family) which means some threads disappoint and, in truth, the supporting cast is not that strong (sadly, an interesting and subtle performance by Mike Colter as the would-be heavyweight champ is not given the screen time it deserves). And, strangely, some of the scenes with Maggie and Frankie (Eastwood) in the hospital did not have some of the emotional impact of their pre-accident predecessors. This add up to an A- rather than anything greater, which is a bit of a shame because the first 2/3rds of the film actually deserve a lot better. The music is also superb, very understated but no less haunting for that.

Inevitably the film courted controversy and will doubtless continue to do so. My own view is that euthanasia will probably become legal and our moral compass will shift accordingly. In other words, it will probably become one of those things we just come to accept, but, of course, I can understand why others disagree, particularly on the basis of their religious beliefs. Anyway, Million Dollar Baby puts a subtle case for legalisation, though Eastwood is intelligent enough not to ram it down your throats. The kind of film that allows you to make up your own mind which is just what this (highly) difficult issues needs.

ME