MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Director: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Mystic River, Bronco Billy, a bit more)
Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman

An incredibly engaging film with a strong arc from character struggle, to triumph, to sickening loss. It's surprising, and idiosyncratic. It doesn't follow a standard plot line, but it still seems highly professional and refined. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman are crotchetly old men, one a fight trainer/manager, the other an ex-fighter. A girl (Hilary Swank) literally fights her way from the bottom to the top, but no matter what she does she still can't escape her lowly roots. Then everything she's found is taken away in a heartbeat, and she's left with less than she had when she started. Is this enough to excuse assisted suicide? Or is it still a horror that can never be forgiven. This film does a darn good job of asking those questions and throwing around some potential answers. This film will result in some definite Oscar nominations. One for Hilary Swank as an actress, one for Clint Eastwood as a director, and a likely nom for Morgan Freeman as a supporting actor.

Standouts: Great acting, good story. Interesting and emotionally painful.
Blowouts: I'm not convinced this one will hold up to repeat viewings.

Grade: A