matt-thornton.net

about

You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.

You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.

Million Dollar Baby

the one line review:

female fighting... but no mud or jelly

the overview

This was film 3 of my Clint Eastwood megamix. Swayed only by the fact it had good reviews and won awards and so on I watched it. And actually, it's good. Two films in one, almost.

the plot:

Clint Eastwood is Frankie, a boxing coach who is old and been there and done that and carrying mental injuries and his main boxer has just left him and... well just as that happens, Hollary Swank's Maggie walks in the door and begs to be trained as a boxer. He says no, no, no, no, and then yes.

He trains her up, she kicks a lot of ass, then in her ultimate fight for the world champion belt the other bird in the fight cheats and it all goes wrong. Clint spends the rest of the film mopping up dribble and coping with the mental angst and all that.

the verdict:

The first half of the film is entirely predictable and pretty old hat. We knew he would eventually agree to train her. I think ultimately we also expected the second half of the film, because this isn't Rocky... The ultimate ending is fairly unexpected, which is good, so it keeps you on your toes until the end.

The fight scenes are well done, and Swank is good as the wannabe boxer. Morgan Freeman has a good role as Clint's been there all his life failed boxer sidekick type person.

You genuinely feel cheated when Maggie's "luck" changes - i.e., the other bitch cheats like a, um, bitch. It's gutting. But necessary.

Clint did well with the state of Maggie's family - it made an interesting character addition.

All in all, it's a worthwhile film, but does serve to highlight one thing - Clint is now too old to act - he looks good for 75, but he really should now confine himself to the other side of the camera.