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February 13, 2005
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
IMDB: Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Plot Outline: A hardened trainer/manager works with a determined woman in her attempt to establish herself as a boxer.
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A remarkable story of self-proclaimed "White Trash" Margaret Fitzgerald (Hillary Swank) who has a dream to become a world champion boxer, persists in asking trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to take her on.
Dunn eventually gives in, with some coaxing from friend, and former boxer, Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris (Morgan Freeman) who sees the potential in Maggie's talent.
What starts as a sports achievement success story, suddenly changes two thirds of the way through the movie to a different story entirely, but you'll have to watch it to discover for yourself what I found to be a fantastic picture.
I can't encourage you enough to go and see this. Eastwood and company have once again produced a remarkable life story of dreams of sucess and desire, old mentors and youth, life's constant challenges all in the framework of 'real world' situations.
For those who've only seen the trailers, let me at least tell you that this is *not* a remake of Rocky with Hillary Swank playing Sly Stallone's character. It is instead a multi-faceted tale that reminded me more of the textures of The Shawhank Redemption (perhaps because of the narration by Morgan Freeman) and was chock full of vignettes of humor, angst, tragedy, and triumph.
Go see it!
Rating: 8
Posted by mark at February 13, 2005 09:37 PM