Million Dollar Baby

REVIEW
At an age when most of his contemporaries are taking it slow, director Eastwood continues to challenge himself both artistically and physically with a crushingly articulate, unrelentingly powerful look at a woman boxer determined to make it to the top of her field. Eastwood, grizzled to perfection, is Frankie Dunn, an aging fight trainer who doesn't take on "girlies." Swank, in her Academy Award-winning bravura performance, is Maggie Fitzgerald, a country bumpkin with a burning desire to escape her low-class roots and achieve stardom in the ring. Though at first glance seemingly stacked with an arsenal of boxing-movie clichés, the story uncannily finds its footing through measured pacing, strong characters delineated by a cast second to none and careful plot developments. Eastwood's meticulous direction transcends the formulaic genre with a haunting solemnity rarely evident in testosterone- or estrogen-charged sports dramas. Boasting three terrific performances from Eastwood, Swank and Freeman, the latter also winning an Oscar as Eddie, Frankie's half-blind friend and former protégé who serves as the film's rueful narrator, Million Dollar Baby is a knock-out, a career highlight for all concerned. The film's controversial third-act plot twist, subject to much press and speculation, may divide some viewers, but there's no denying its extraordinary impact. Winner of 4 Oscars, including Best Film and Director.