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by Sean McCormack.
Original Post: Movie Review: Million Dollar Baby (Don't See It)
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I'm a big boxing fan, so when my wife bought me a copy of Million
Dollar Baby I was really excited. Especially given the rave reviews it received
from the critics (which I'm gradually learning doesn't mean much).
The first 3/4 of the movie was pretty good. The most entertaining part was the
dialogues between Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. They're both 2 crabby
old men who are close friends but show it through constant bantering back and forth.
It added a lot of good humor to the movie.
The boxing side, surprisingly, wasn't that good. Very little boxing was actually
involved. The few scenes that did have boxing were very fast, since Hilary Swank
has knock out power and rarely goes beyond the first 30 seconds of the first round.
Additionally, the training portion was very light - very little sparring or actual
training. The training that did take place was often wrong. For example,
Morgan Freeman tells Hilary to never hit an opponent when she's coming in because
it will push Hilary back. Instead, you always hit them when they're moving back...which
is idiotic. Anyone that's studied basic physics knows that if you hit them as
they're stepping back their momentum will suck up a lot of your blow. That was
Muhammad Ali's main tactic...he would lean against the ropes and allow opponents to
pound on him. Because the ropes allowed him to bounce back with the blows, the
opponent's power was greatly reduced. He would wait until they were worn out
and then pounce on them and win. So, the boxing techniques in the movie aren't
overly impressive, either.
Then, about 3/4 through, the movie absolutely tanks. I don't
know how or why, but just when you think the movie is about to end on a good note
it goes completely sideways. Hilary is in a championship fight - what she's
dreamed of for years. She brutalizes her opponent in the first round.
The opponent, who's known to fight dirty, waits until the round is over. As
Hilary is returning to her corner, the other boxer purposely hits her from behind
throwing her head-first into the stool in her corner. This breaks Hilary's spine
in half and she becomes a parapalegic. Clint takes care of her for several months
with her unable to move and sucking air through a tube in her throat. Hilary
develops bed sores and ends up having to have a leg amputated. Then, her white
trash family comes to town and tries to swindle her out of the money the Boxing Commission
gave her and she disowns them. Fed up, she asks Clint Eastwood to kill her and
put her out of her misery. He won't, so she begins biting her tongue so that
she'll drown in the blood. After several rounds of reattaching her toungue,
the doctors sedate her. Clint talks to Morgan and realizes that her life
is now over and that she had her moment in the spotlight and should die with that
fresh in her mind. So, he kills her and disappears...roll credits.
How freakin' depressing is that???? I couldn't believe it. A story that
could have ended on a great note ends up being one of the most depressing movies I've
ever seen. Do yourself a favor...save your money. I wouldn't even spend
the money to rent it. I'll be selling my copy. :-(
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