Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clint Eastwood's 25th film as a director, Million Dollar Baby stands proudly with Unforgiven and Mystic River as the masterwork of a great American filmmaker. In an age of bloated spectacle and computer-generated effects extravaganzas, Eastwood turns an elegant screenplay by Paul Haggis (adapted from the book Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner by F.X. Toole, a pseudonym for veteran boxing manager Jerry Boyd) into a simple, humanitarian example of classical filmmaking, as deeply felt in its heart-wrenching emotions as it is streamlined in its character-driven storytelling. In the course of developing powerful bonds between "white-trash" Missouri waitress and aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), her grizzled, reluctant trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and Frankie's best friend and training-gym partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), 74-year-old Eastwood mines gold from each and every character, resulting in stellar work from his well-chosen cast. Containing deep reserves of love, loss, and the universal desire for something better in hard-scrabble lives, Million Dollar Baby emerged, quietly and gracefully, as one of the most acclaimed films of 2004, released just in time to earn an abundance of year-end accolades, all of them well-deserved. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
What a great film!!.......2008-02-18
One of the best films I've ever seen. The acting is superb!! The relationship between Clint Eastwood & Hilary Swank is totally believable and Morgan Freeman is his usual excellent self. I loved it and will definitely watch it again
A knock out film that will leave a lasting impression.......2008-02-11
I have only recently viewed this film and two days on, I am still deeply affected and moved by the story. That surely is the sign of a great film maker (Eastwood) and script.
The story begins as a typical yarn about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has a dream, a relentless determination and self-belief to make something of herself through boxing. She persuades the grizzly trainer played by Clint Eastward to take her on and Morgan Freeman narrates with his hallmark understated, commanding tones.
The film knocks the wind out of you when it takes a turn that is completely unexpected and leaves you numbed with shock as the tragic events unfurl.
The performances by all the lead characters are superb and the film's impact will stay with you for a long time.
Too much fuss for its own good.......2008-02-05
I'm not being very generous with the stars here, as I'd expected much of this Oscar-winner, and it left me with a feeling that someone had edited the best bits out of my copy of the DVD. Maybe it's a genuine step forward for a Clint Eastwood movie, but the man must be about a hundred, and he's in no danger of catching up with the cutting edge of world cinema. Most of the movie plods along pleasantly enough, with shades of Shawshank in atmosphere but not a great deal to back it up. Then it rushes headlong through matters of real importance and my overall impression was somehow of cosy predictability. Given the nature of the subject matter (I won't spoil it for you, but as you may have heard the later part of the movie is not so cosy in content), this is both ironic and appalling!
Million Dollar Baby is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it, and Hollywood can do much worse, but don't rent it thinking you're getting a film of the year.
Million Dollar Baby is also a great title for a movie, but not this one. They appear to have lifted it from either one of two pre-war features; I don't know.
whats the point in killing of the main character clint you muppet!.......2008-02-04
LOL!
i can't believe they made clint kill off the girl! she had planty of time left in her
as my old man said, just let the old dog lay to rest
this flim was boring after 5 minutes though so i went to make a hot chocolate and nothing had changed just him arsing about with no voice left.
maybe he should just give up!?
megson freeman also had little to say. they probably should have killed him off because he never dies in films. i cant remember the last time he died in the film but he should of in that car one i cant remmeber the name of it
after 2 hours i retired to my lounger and gave up on the hopeless tripe. clint had let me down and didnt even use his magnum. i like dirty harry me.
i think ive covered everything but i wudnt reccomend this. dont touch it with a barge pole.
No real 'watch again' factor after you know the depressing ending..........2008-02-04
I'm going to keep this brief as I know just how over-rated films are reviewed here on Amazon. All in all, this a great film - it's been superbly directed, Clint E proves time and time again theirs still life left beneath his wrinkly skin (though his voice sounds like he's about to kop it!) and Morgan Freeman does another nice job narrating the film with his soft voice and friendly face.
For about the first 2/thirds of the film, it keeps you hooked in the typical 'Rocky' situation - ie, local townie goes from wrags to success. And although it was good to see it wasn't too predictable in that Clint E's character would automatically train our protagonist boxer, the ending of the 'Big' fight leaves the rest of film very sad, which to me anyway has no re-play value if I was given this on DVD. So ok, this isn't supposed to be 'entertainment' as in clowns bouncing everywhere, but we all like a happy ending at least!
I gave this film 3 stars for the fairest of judgement. It's not predictable, it's well shot and directed, and the acting is great. But I just think the ending could have been re-worked alot better. Let it be known too that Clint just decides to bugger off somewhere and no-where knows where he's gone after (SPOILER) pulling the plug on his fighter, leaving the end asking yourself; ".. is that it?".
So... good to watch one time around, but think you'll be watching this over and again, and you'll kill the atmosphere in any household.
UK DVD:
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