Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, which won four Oscars on Sunday, including the award for best picture, tells the story of the tragic, platonic relationship between a young woman determined to become a boxer and a grizzled trainer 30 years her senior.
It’s no Rocky-style boxer-as-hero blockbuster. Instead, Million Dollar Baby is a poignant, intimate film in which boxing serves as a backdrop for the exploration of such complex themes as religion, money and euthanasia.
Eastwood — no stranger to bruised-by-life characters — both directed the flick and starred in the role of trainer Frankie Dunn.
Critics unanimously hailed the picture as another masterwork from a beloved Hollywood icon.
Inspired by a semi-autobiographical novel by boxing coach Jerry Boyd, under the pseudonym FX Toole, the film starts with waitress Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arriving at the gym. She is seeking a manager to help her escape her sordid life and realise a dream of getting into the ring.
Maggie has neither love nor money in her life, but her unfailing determination finally wins over Dunn, who had previously refused to train a woman.
He, too, has been lamed by life. Estranged from his daughter for a reason that is never explained, he attends church every day without taking much comfort, and wears down the priest with his philosophical questions.
A special bond grows between the young woman and the old trainer — though romance is never suggested — as each seeks to help the other overcome the wounds of the past.
But just as they seem to be on the road to healing, tragedy strikes. A knockout in a match leaves Maggie paralysed and, incapable of overcoming the situation, she begs her coach-turned-friend to help her die.
In that pivotal moment, Eastwood demonstrates his talent both in front of and behind the camera, portraying the painful battle of conscience with subtlety and elegance without succumbing to sentimentality.
Hailed by critics, the film raised the ire of some conservative and right-to-life groups, who said it encouraged suicide.
Baby had a total of seven nominations going into the Academy Award ceremony on Sunday, including best picture, best director, best actor for Eastwood, best actress for Swank, best supporting actor for Morgan Freeman, best film editing and best adapted screenplay.
The film won four of the seven Oscars, for best actress, best supporting actor, best director and best picture. – Sapa-AFP