The movie takes on the quality of rags to riches story in the beginning of the movie but fate intervenes. In this edited version of the review, I will not reveal the final twist other to say that Dunn is faced with a crisis of faith and decision that will affect all those around him.
Eastwood directorial style is sparse and words are few but powerful. Boxing fans will appreciate the various scenes in the gym. Eastwood and Freeman gives both boxing fans and even non-boxing fans an enjoyable look at boxing 101. Eastwood has always been able to get more out of few words and expression than any other actors. There are no wasted motions and you are drawn into the drama immediately. Eastwood gruff nature is contrasted by the sunny optimism of Morgan Freeman’s Scrap and Hillary Swank’s Maggie. Swank’s Maggie has no reason to be optimistic for she is beginning her career passed the age of 30 but she believes. Her optimism is typical Americana and rubs off on Eastwood’s Dunn.
Eastwood throughout his career has explored this darker nature of heroes and villains. From his days as the man with no name in his many spaghetti Western and Dirty Harry’s films through his most recent films, Eastwood’s character are often been the counter heroes who would break a few rules to defend society from the criminal element. In Eastwood’s world and ours, heroes are flawed human beings. These heroes don’t always act heroically but in the end, they are driven to do what is right. One pundit has called Eastwood the Hemingway of Movies for his sparse ways. Maybe we should call Hemingway the Eastwood of writing.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Matt Egan
Tom--This would be a nice review, if you hadn't given away the most important plot points. You've effectively ruined the experience for anyone who hasn't seen the movie yet. Now the reader already knows that [edited]? Read Ebert's review of the movie, which speak to the same themes as your review, without giving me a book report style that tells us everything. Christ.
2 - Brian Streeper
Have you ever heard of the phrase SPOILER ALERT????
Luckily, I came across your "review" AFTER I returned from the theater, because you reveal major details of this stellar film, including a devastating plot twist that should've remained a secret for those who haven't had a chance to see the movie yet.
Judging by the tone of your writing, you obviously liked the film. Was your intention to keep other people from feeling the same way? If so, it worked, because any poor soul who has happened upon your review doesn't need to see this movie. You've told them the ENTIRE story.
Thank God you weren't around when I saw "The Usual Suspects." I'm sure you would've managed to ruin that, too.
3 - Eric Berlin
Color me in the spoiled category.
I guess this is my comeuppance for my telling my sister that Darth Vader was Luke's father...
4 - Temple Stark
Eric Noooo.
5 - TOM DONELSON
I will admit it, I screwed up. Million dollar baby was great movie [edited]
So please forgive me. I have learned a valuable lesson. Enjoy the movie inspite of yours truly. Right now I am watching the last days of Pompeii on Discovery- oh yea, nearly everyone dies.
6 - DrPat
Tom, you could edit your post to remove the spoiler aspect...
7 - Tom Donelson
Piece been re-edited.
8 - Matt
Maybe edit comment #5 too where you let us know what Frank's ultimate decision was. You've succeeded in leaving nothing for the theater. Kudos.
You're a regular Pauline Kael, Tom. Thanks!
9 - Brian Streeper
I love how, after you admit you screwed up, you manage to reveal YET ANOTHER major plot point in your comment. Maybe it would best if you left the movie reviews to the professionals, huh?
10 - Eric Olsen
sounds like One Flew Over .. oops
11 - Matt Egan
Its the kind of thing you can get away with on Passion of the Christ, or Titanic. We can pretty well figure out how those end.
12 - Tom Donelson
Trust me when I tell, even the pros screw up. (I know from personal experience,since I have been panel discussion with many professionals or experts on various issues and more than held my own.) So I will keep plugging away and there will be more reviews in the future. Besides some of you are hard to please.
13 - Tom Johnson
People, what is wrong with you? You complain about spoilers and then what do you do? You give away more spoilers with your comments!
Please have comment #1 edited, too - it gives away what must be a pretty major issue in the plot.
Tom: talk about the acting, talk about the story, but don't ever, EVER talk about the ending or any aspect of the ending, especially when there is a "twist" of some kind. You've edited this review but still left in clues about things that happen in the ending. As a potential viewer of this movie, even your edited review contains enough spoilers that I have a pretty good idea of some of the events of the end of the film. Not to mention Matt Egan's completely unnecessary, very specific detail about what happens to a major character (see how I did that? Not a clue as to what happens, nor to whom it happens.) The result? One less ticket sold to see this movie, because a good part of the tension of finding out what and why things are happening has already been relieved for me. Thanks a whole lot.
14 - Matt Egan
Tom J--You obviously didn't read the original post before it was edited. Tom D gave away the whole movie before he decided to edit out the spoiler. My comment #1 was not a spolier--it was form the original review! I didn't see the movie yet, so how would I know this?
Since you were a Johnny Come Lately on this, your opinion is worth nothing.
15 - Eric Olsen
yes, but your comment about the comment about the review has revealed ...
16 - Matt Egan
I think I spared everyone more plot points, since I'll need to get them from Tom D. I'm relying on people who have seen the movie.
It sure sounds Oscar worthy. I cried when I read the ending. Imagine what would have happened if I had seen it!
17 - Tom Johnson
Actually, as a "Johnny Come Lately," my opinion is actually worth more since I was still able to figure out what happens at the end, even after the editing. My "Johnny Come Lately"-ness just makes even more obvious that the review still reveals critical details. But, thanks for minimizing me, dude. And my name's not Johnny.
18 - Andrew
this movie sucks anyway...formulaic crap