MILLION DOLLAR BABY is set presumably in contemporary time where Maggie
Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is an excruciatingly poor, thirty-one year
old waitress working overtime to support her dysfunctional lower-class
family. Between saving scraps and pulling back-to-back shifts Maggie
manages to provide for her family as best she can; foregoing all personal
comforts in the process. Still, 'serving' is not Fitzgerald's dream
profession and in turn seeks help at a local boxing gym where former
boxing extraordinaire Eddie 'Scrap-Iron' Dupris (Morgan Freeman) and
his famous trainer, Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) spend their days running
the ring and training would-be-male-boxing stars.
The last thing Dunn wants is a female around to stir up trouble in
the gym; which is already abounding in the shape of the scrawny 'Danger'
Barch (Jay Barauchel) and his many 'nemeses' out to undermine his relentless
training efforts. Still, a little bit of a 'danger' herself, Maggie
relentlessly pursues Dunn, seeking his training in exchange for hard
earned cash. Out of shape and 'out of age', Maggie hardly fits the profile
of a boxing protege, still she persists. Beginning a goofy-footed waitress,
through hours of endless training Maggie quickly emerges in several
months a formidable force with a deadly right hook. Much like "Raging
Bull's" Jake La Motta, with one solid punch Maggie quickly K.O.'s
her way to the top of the boxing world, and ironically, finds herself
quickly out of business as other trainers continue to withhold their
fighters from matching up against Maggie Fitzgerald in fear of their
safety.
Between her sporadic fights and multiple training sessions Maggie begins
to establish a close rapport with both Dupris and Dunn; particularly
the latter who finds a way to make means of his estranged daughter through
his newfound friendship with Maggie. Taking on the role of both trainer
and parent Dunn begins to invest more than professionally in Maggie's
future and constantly seeks to better her career in her good interest
as a bit of a protective father-figure; warding off the likes of female
boozing endorser Big Willie Little (Mike Colter), and other nefarious
boxing-endorser aficionados. Despite his avid protests to take Maggie
to the top Dunn begins to substantially invest, even scrapping personal
funds to get Maggie her deserved fights and publicity.
Meanwhile Maggie is still pulling shifts as a waitress until her boxing
status goes from so-so to superstar; all the while donating her hard
earned funds to her undeserving and unthankful family. The climax of
disregard for Maggie's hard work unveils itself in a thankless Earline
Fitzgerald (Margo Martindale) and Mardell Fitzgerald (Riki Lindhome)
snubbing their nose at their brand new house; purchased in cash by Maggie,
for fear that the government will now revoke their financial support.
A disheartened Maggie and enraged Dunn head back to the ring where Maggie
will prepare to train for her upcoming fight against the notoriously
formidable Billie 'The Blue Bear' (Lucia Rijker).
Known to have already permanently injured and killed some of her opponents,
Blue Bear will be Maggie's toughest match yet; with the odds stacked
against her favor. Still, Maggie, Dupris, and Dunn all work together
to train Maggie into a perfected machine; Maggie leading the way the
entire time. As Maggie steps into the ring donning her new 'robe', compliments
of Dunn, she prepares to fight for her right to glory. But with 'Blue
Bear's' nefarious reputation standing between Fitzgerald and fame it's
only a matter of several rounds before her fate is forever written in
the stars?
MILLION DOLLAR BABY is a knockout. It will sweep you off its feet
and engage you emotionally, provoking audiences to emotionally invest
in Fitzgerald's future as much as Dunn or Dupris. The film is outstanding
and its clean cinematography and powerful score highlight its clean,
action-packed, albeit classically humane tell that incorporates as much
of a personal journey as it does a professional quest to glory. The
classic tale of the orphan rising to fame takes shape in MILLION DOLLAR BABY as a contemporary icon; 'the boxer', through the unique character
that is Maggie Fitzgerald. Hilary Swank is nothing short of fabulous,
arguably flawless in her role. From her own personal hard work Swank
physically prepped herself for the role to expose a ripped and svelte
physique true to the look required to play a boxing pro. Moreover, her
emotional artistry and dynamic acting skills, her powerful presence
and uncanny combination of humility and unpretentious confidence combine
to create a one-of-a-kind characterization for Maggie Fitzgerald that,
had it been anyone else, arguably would never have succeeded. As one
critic observed: 'As for Swank, well, she must have found something
big that she shared with her character, because this is not acting,
it is existing. Swank is Maggie. That's all there is too it. This could
be the movie she will be remembered for.' Still, with Swank she doesn't
simply succeed, she soars above expectation and requirements in her
role as Maggie Fitzgerald; clearly deserving of her second Oscar honor
bestowed upon her for her magnificent performance.
Likewise, Morgan Freeman simply astounds audiences with his disarming
role as 'Scrap-Iron' Dupris. From his powerful monologues to his tragic
tale, Freeman's character exudes the necessary warmth and humanism required
to shed a hopeful light on the first half of the movie; his relentless
humility and good grace help pave way for both Maggie's physical transformation,
as well as the much-needed, evident psychological transformation of
his counterpart, Frankie Dunn. Moreover his famous voice is the perfect
timbre and cadence for the narrative that follows the film from beginning
to end with that classic 'Freeman tone' that suggests of humble authority
speaking of truths larger than the character he plays. That said, Freeman
is simply a powerful force and like Swank, more than deserving of his
Oscar honor for Best Supporting Actor. So too does Clintwood rise to
the occasion and solidly portray the conflicted trainer/father figure
Frankie Dunn, for which he was awarded an Oscar nomination for Best
Actor.
As one critic notes: 'The photography, score and direction is superb,
but never distracting. What this movie is, if I have to call it something,
is passion. Passion for film-making, passion for storytelling, passion
for its characters, passion for its actors, and passion for its story
and the means at which it will go to tell it. Amazing.' Everything about
the sets and the plot screams 'justice: hard work and dogged determination
will prevail'. But just as there are glimmering moments of hope and
truth, so too is there the inevitable presence of a dark tragedy underlying
the slurry of success. With so much baggage on behalf of all the characters;
Dupris, Dunn, and Fitzgerald, the film smacks of a tragic underpinning,
and yet the audience wholly immerses themselves in the present success
that sweeps up audiences in the 'fairytale' story that lends itself
necessary and possible through Fitzgerald's relentless determination.
To call attention once more to the medium of the work, the film is
a conglomerate of seamless editing, powerfully haunting scores, vivid
performances, and pristine cinematography and set production: 'The acting,
directing, writing, score, cinematography' they all accomplish precisely
what they're supposed to with sublime perfection?. There is no wondering
as to why this film was a success at the 2005 Oscars; running away with
4 of its 7 nominations. From tragedy to triumph and back again the film?s
cyclical narrative encompasses the entire spectrum and breadth of human
emotion through the lens of three distinctly powerful and memorable
characters; united by the impressionable force that is Maggie Fitzgerald.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY was the proud recipient of 4 Oscars: Best Achievement
in Directing (Clint Eastwood), Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best
Performance by a Supporting Actor; Male (Morgan Freeman), Best Performance
by an Actress; leading (Hilary Swank). In addition, MILLION DOLLAR BABY garnered three other Oscar nominations: Best Achievement in Editing
(Joel Cox), Best Performance by an Actor; leading (Clint Eastwood),
Best Writing (Paul Haggis). MILLION DOLLAR BABY also received 25 other
nominations and 34 other critical film association awards including
2 Golden Globes: Best Director (Clint Eastwood), and Best Actress (Hilary
Swank).
Main Characters:
Hilary Swank plays Maggie Fitzgerald, the unlikely dogged boxing and
human extraordinaire.
Clint Eastwood plays Frankie Dunn, Maggie's reluctant trainer.
Morgan Freeman plays Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, Dunn's former protege
turned loyal employee.
Mike Colter plays Big Willie Little, the notorious women's boxing financer.
Lucia Rijker plays Billie "The Blue Bear", the unstoppable
female boxing middleweight champion. Margo Martindale plays Earline
Fitzgerald, Maggie's unthankful mother.
Riki Lindhome plays Mardell Fitzgerald, Maggie's wayward sister.
MILLION
DOLLAR BABY ... THE DRAMA REVIEW
