Million Dollar Blubber
- Million Dollar Baby review by CP Customer
Well what can I say? A friend suggested I watch this, I heard it was about a female boxer and just thought no thanks, then one rainy sunday when I wasnt at the pub! I put it in and oh my goddddddddddddddd! well i was hooked, eastwood plays a good part but Hilary Swank plays an amazing part, this woman is genius, and quite sexy in a weird masculine kind of way, anyway, a fab story line of the girl with nothing makes it big, but with a sad twist,but hey i could handle that, what I couldnt handle was when Eastwood tells Swank what the words on the back of her boxing robe mean, oh my god, I can only say what followed was the sobbing noises of a young child who has been told that their pet earwig has died. this is a must see film, even if you hate boxing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
Superb drama
- Million Dollar Baby review by CP Customer
When I first heard what the film was about I didn't fancy it, but am so glad I tried it. Hilary Swank is very believable as the 'trailer trash' with a dream, whilst Clint Eastwood has the role of miserable old beggar down to a tee. I was absorbed by the whole story, enraged by the ungrateful gold diggers, and cried buckets more than once.
A must see.
4 out of 7 members found this review helpful.
Beautifully Made
- Million Dollar Baby review by CP Customer
Not for the faint-hearted, Million Dollar Baby is less a boxing movie, and more a superbly weaved story of ambition, emotional scars, and regret.
Again, Clint Eastwood creates a beautifully put together film, where almost every frame is an example of tip-top cinematic photography. The score works well, and the performances are as good as you'd expect from such a heavyweight line-up.
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Well worth renting
- Million Dollar Baby review by CP Customer
Clint was, well, just Clint, but in the sort of character that this suits, but Hilary Swank was a revelation - superb.
Her heartbreak when her gift of a house for her horrible family was received so ungratefully nearly had me in tears, and I was pleased when they got their comeuppance.
By the way, I know Morgan Freeman's got a nice voice, but why does he get quite so many voiceovers? Shawshank Redemption, March of the Penguins & this, to name but three?!
Anyway, well worth it.
4 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Powerful film that does not miss a punch
- Million Dollar Baby review by CP Customer
Although the subject matter at times was tough I have to say I really enjoyed this film. It made a change to see a Hollywood movie that did not fall down, as so many do, with a cheesy lightweight ending.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Rocky rollercoatster
- Million Dollar Baby review by JD
An unexpected gem. This is well worth watching. One of Clint's less famous films but I would say his best. The female boxer Hilary Swank is very endearing and her struggle to achieve recognition is enveloping. I found some of the closing scenes extremely emotional and have rarely finished a film so drained of emotion. All the characters are underachievers and all full of unstated passion. How these three (Freeman is particularly understated) manage to covey so much so quietly I can only admire.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
More Gloves Than Glory
- Million Dollar Baby review by griggs
I went in expecting to be absolutely flattened, mainly because this one owned awards season — 7 Oscar nominations and 4 wins, including Best Picture and Best Director. Instead, I found it solid, sometimes really moving, and a bit too aware of how Important it’s meant to feel.
The best thing in it is Clint Eastwood as Frankie. He’s genuinely brilliant — all tired pride and feelings shoved down where they don’t belong — and he even snagged an Oscar nomination for acting. It’s easily my favourite performance of his long after the spaghetti-western swagger wore off.
What surprised me is that the direction, despite winning him Best Director, often feels very straightforward. For a second I thought, “Maybe writer Paul Haggis could’ve directed it and added some extra zip”… and then I remembered Crash exists, and I withdrew the suggestion.
Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman did win acting Oscars for these roles, but for me neither performance quite screams “Oscar winner” on its own. If they play as well as they do here, I suspect Eastwood’s steady hand deserves a big chunk of the credit. Either way, he’s the one I’d have handed the statue to.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.