Movie Review: Million Dollar Baby

My expectation of this movie has definitely been heighten after it won the Best Movie award at the recent Oscars ceremony. And I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more without the added expectation. Not to say it's not a good movie, but as I expected, how different can a boxing-movie be? Does it deserved the award? I don't think so (although I've not watched any of the other nominated movies...). But does Clint Eastwood deserves his best director award? Hell yes. He brought the movie up a notch.

The story chronicles how Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) agree to train Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) after he missed out an opportunity to win the title with one of this fighters. So the story goes from how Maggie progresses from an amateur fighter to become a professional fighter with a chance for the world title.

Sounds like your typical loser-in-sports-to-world-champion storyline doesn't it? Well, to me, that's pretty much what the story is about, although of course, it builds a lot more on the character and drama of the 2 main characters and that of Scrap (Morgan Freeman). But the direction of Clint Eastwood does elevate the movie above those typical feel good sports movie. And Hilary Swank's performance deserves a praise (and probably her Best Actress award) although Morgan Freeman is probably under utilised in the movie really.

Overall, a good watch, but somehow lacks the "ummmph" for a Best Movie. And a little heavy for a late night watch too.

Ratings: 4 out of 5