Million Dollar Baby stars Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman.
The movie is about our dreams and doing what we really want to do. There are dreams that we must follow in order that our life has a meaning. Sometimes those dreams may be our only source of happiness. Hillary Swank plays Margaret (Maggie ) Fitzgerald who lives a meaningless, inane existence as a waitress surviving on tips and leftovers. She harbours a dream to box, it’s the only thing she wants to do despite all the odds , including her age which is 31.
Its about people, often unrelated who help us achieve them. We are all made up of hundreds of others. Maggie needs a trainer and finds her mentor in Frankie Dunn ( Clint Eastwood ) who manages a rundown gym. Frankie does not train girls but gives into Maggie’s persistence.
Its about those nameless relationships shared with some people that may mean much more than those with many we call our own. The relationship between Maggie and Frankie is one of them. Maggie misses her dead father and the remaining of her family isn’t what you would wish for a family. Frankie has no contact with his only daughter. Together , they share a bond.
Its about decisions we make, that affect the course of our life and that of others. Sometimes we know for sure, like Maggie did , about boxing. Other times, we may dwell for long on whether the decision taken was right or wrong. Frankie till the end feels responsible for bringing Maggie into boxing and wonders whether agreeing to train her was a right decision or not.
Morgan Freeman , as the caretaker of the Gym, takes the narrative.
Despite all the action in the boxing ring, the movie has a very calming and lasting effect. It sets you thinking, message is subtly given. All actors have delivered. Once in a while, when Hollywood leaves alone dinosaurs, aliens and perversion, it comes up with good movies like this.