My Darling, My Blood - Film Review of Million Dollar Baby

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Abstract

This film review will discuss Clint Eastwood’s 2004 movie Million Dollar Baby. Like a deluxe restaurant meal, veteran movie director and lead actor Eastwood carefully selected unique, high-quality ingredients for the script and co-actors, and skilled chefs – i.e. film artisans - to plan and create something exceptional. The final result leaves a subtle, distinct and memorable flavor. A Million Dollar Baby (MDB) film reviewer suggests that Eastwood’s “touch only gets lighter with time”. (Grey, 2005) MDB won the Academy Award for 2004’s Film of the Year as well as Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Supporting Male Actor - this reflects the calibre of the chosen contributors, and clearly exemplifies it as a film masterpiece. Bittersweet and controversial, the film delivers an unforgettable impact.

My Darling, My Blood

An aspiring boxer, Maggie (portrayed by Hilary Swank), convinces a gruff trainer, Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), to prepare her for competition. Frankie, his hard outer shell eventually revealing affection and generosity, reluctantly takes her on and they develop an intimate relationship, shored up by his friend, former competitive boxer and employee, Scrap (played by Morgan Freeman). Scrap admires and quietly supports Maggie’s dedication to her dream. Maggie works with fierce determination and eventually fights for a championship when ill fate deals a cruel blow: she falls awkwardly, breaking her neck and becoming a quadriplegic. Frankie, who has become her closest friend and a father figure, at her fervent request, takes her life.

Clint Eastwood is a thinking moviegoer’s actor and director, his career evolution is satisfying to follow. Since the mid 1950’s, he has been nominated fo...

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...have created a feast for the senses and an enduring performance.

References

Clint Eastwood. (2002). In (Ed.), Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwood

Grey, I. (2005). Kid Gloves. Baltimore City Paper(1.12.2005). Retrieved from http://www.citypaper.com/film/review.asp?rid=8334

Introduction to Greek Tragedy. (1998). In AbleMedia LLC (Ed.), Classics Technology Center. Retrieved March 2009, from http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/netshots/tragedy.htm

Joel Cox - Wikipedia. (2008). In (Ed.), Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Cox

McCulley, J. (, Amazon.com review). Million Dollar Baby Soundtrack. Amazon.com retail site. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Baby-Clint-Eastwood/dp/B0007O38FI

Toole, F. X. (2000). Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner. New York: HarperCollins

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