Million Dollar Baby Details

2004

Rated:
70
from 95,049 members

Starring	Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel
Director	Clint Eastwood
Genres	Drama, Sport

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Million Dollar Baby

Released a little over a year after the grand success of his Oscar-winning feature 'Mystic River', Clint Eastwood returns to the director's chair for 'Million Dollar Baby'. Eastwood also stars in the role of Frankie Dunn, a down-on-his-luck former boxing manager who spends the twilight years of his life running a small, dilapidated gym in downtown Los Angeles.

Frankie's previous career was blighted by an injury to one of his prize fighters, Scrap (Morgan Freeman), who lost the sight in his right eye during a particularly brutal bout; Scrap now wiles away the hours working as a cleaner in Frankie's gym. Wary of similar occurrences being inflicted on the prestigious young talent that passes before him, Frankie lets a succession of great boxers slip through his fingers. But when the brash, confident young boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) strides into the gym, Frankie's life is irretrievably altered.

Initially refusing to train Maggie due to her gender and age, Frankie relents when faced with her tenacity, spirit, and burning ambition. The combination of Maggie's talent and Frankie's tutelage paves the way for the adroit fighter to rise steadily through the ranks of women's boxing, with the unlikely coupling forming a genuinely touching bond in the process.

Starring	Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Brian F. O'Byrne
Director	Clint Eastwood
Studio	ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time	DVD: 2 hrs 7 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 7 mins
Certificate
Collections	100 Feisty Females
Genres	Drama, Sport
Language	English
Released	DVD: 27 Jun 2005 Blu-ray: 02 Nov 2009 Production year: 2004
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (4) of Million Dollar Baby
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For those who thought Unforgiven was the masterpiece of Clint Eastwood's autumn years, this sharp, moving and brutally bleak drama proves that he can bring the same grizzled genius to the sports arena. Adapted from Rope Burns, a book of short stories by FX Toole, it stars Eastwood as Frankie Dunn, a washed-up coach whose fighters abandon him as soon as they hit the big time. Dumped by his latest slugger, Dunn reluctantly turns his attentions to Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), a 31-year-old waitress who turns up at his gym begging for lessons. Dunn tutors Maggie to success, but then this otherwise standard underdog story takes a shocking turn in its final third that gives the movie an unexpected depth and immense power. Morgan Freeman is impressive as Dunn's crumpled sidekick, and Golden Globe winner Swank is terrific, too, but this is Clint's film, both as its tortured hero and as a great American director.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A knockout, affecting drama of an ageing boxing trainer, almost waiting for death, his commonsensical sidekick, and a young woman hoping for a life; Eastwood wrings true emotion from a narrative that goes in unexpected directions and the performances are
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful member's review of Million Dollar Baby
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68 out of 83 people found this review helpful

It Will Have A Round With 'Rocky' Anyday!

Before I start you must rent this immediately! This film is brilliant. If you haven’t seen it yet I strongly suggest you do! Its another film directed by Mr Eastwood and its possibly he best yet. Mr Eastwood likes to keep things simple in this movie and it shows in the end result. The movie is about a 30-year-old woman trying to do anything to pursue her dream of becoming a boxer and wining the world championship. Although the movie does follow the 'American dream' it has a bitter and harsh twist, which propels the movie into utter sadness. It is a stunning story with characters you will likely to remember, it has a great sense of humour and kind-heartedness. Eastwood has raised the bar in movie making yet again and this is an enjoyable and engrossing movie to watch. It has thrills, spills, emotional lows + highs and comedy. The film does dive deep into complete disaster and tragedy, which is a nice and different twist to what we are used to in boxing films. Clint, Hilary and Morgan all deserve awards for their roles and characters in the movie. Put it this way you cant miss this film, and if you do you’ll regret it, its pleasant to watch and totally absorbing!

5 out of 5 stars
- - Gary from Croydon, London
  - Posted 02 Aug 2005 11:47
Most recent members' review of Million Dollar Baby
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12 out of 20 people found this review helpful

Just go see it

Don't read anything about this film otherwise it will spoil it, just go see it. It's just so good. Just give Swank the Oscar now.
- - carrie24 from south glamorgan
  - Posted 31 Jan 2005 14:28
News and features
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New Clint Eastwood film wins top prize
- 12 Dec 2006
Letters From Iwo Jima, the story of Japanese-American conflict during World War II, has been named as best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood and is a companion piece to the movie veteran's latest project, Flags of Our Fathers, reports Studio Briefing. Although Eastwood missed out on the prize for best director, the award for best picture is one of many that have been given to the former mayor throughout his extensive career.... Read more
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