Million Dollar Baby

I was looking forward to seeing this film which won so many awards as the Oscars 2005

The acting was excellent, as was the direction. Like my favourite Clint Eastwood-directed film, Mystic River, the story in character led, but this time it is more about the father-daughter relationship of trainer Frankie and protogee Maggie, rather than about the people connected to a murder.

Trailer trash Maggie (Hilary Swank) wants to be a boxer and reckons the reluctant Frankie (Eastwood) is the man to train her. With some help from Frankie' s friend Eddie (Morgan Freeman) she gets started and Frankie agrees to train her, originally just until she can get a proper manager. She does well and saves hard to help her ungrateful family, whilst leaning on Frankie more than she realises, as he too becomes dependant on her as he is estranged form his own daughter.

The start of the film was very action packed, and it slowed down towards the end, and I found the last thrid quite slow, but all in all in a very watchable film.

6.5/10