IMANI ROTHWELL- MILLION DOLLAR BABY CRITIQUE
In this scene Maggie ask Frankie to be her trainer and Frank says “Girlie tough, aint enough”
When watching Million Dollar Baby I warn you to turn off your cell phone, put the babies to sleep and make sure you can have an hour and a half of no distractions, because every second in this movie is important. This movie has an outstanding cast. Clint Eastwood did not only direct and co-produce this movie but he made his character, Frankie Dunn, a simple man with complex emotions and a complex life. Frankie is someone you feel for because he gives you a tough trainer who does not really have any sentimental emotions, but through his facial expressions you can tell in parts of the movie he hurts and feels pain. Just by the way he looks at Maggie when he is training her as if he was looking into the eyes of his daughter that he lost. The time when he wants to cry with Maggie when she is crying but refuse to because he wants to be the strong one in the situation. With that it also makes him hard to understand because you want him to be vulnerable and show us at least once that he is a human who feels all emotions besides anger. That is what makes Frankie a character you love to hate and hate to love.
In this scene Maggie tells Frankie her life story in a short monologue then ends by saying,
“If I’m too old for this then I got nothing.”
“If I’m too old for this then I got nothing.”
Then there is Hilary Swank. Wow! Ms. Swank really gave Maggie’s life. If you are a person who has been told by your parents, peers, teachers or anyone that you are not going to be successful in life, know Hilary Swank tells your story on screen. When the camera gets close up on her face you can see the determination each and every time she hits that punching bag. After she wins a fight her eyes lights up instantly and she gives a smile that will melt your heart. One of my favorite lines she says is “I’ve got nobody but you Frankie,” after leaving a heated argument with her mother who does nothing but doubt Maggie’s future. When she say's those words you hear her pain in the cracking of her voice. If you are someone who experience having to tell someone who is not your parents, that they are all you have then know Maggie character is someone you will love and relate too.
In this scene Frankie tells Maggie "you can’t beat the fighter because she is a better fighter than you" Then tells her to do something about it.
Another aspect of this movie I loved is the theme of accomplishing dreams when everyone is against you and also the theme of love. First let’s tackle the fact that this movie makes you feel for Maggie because majority of the people in this world have been told they were not good at something or will not be able to succeed in something. Maggie’s character gave hope to those who was willing to give into the negative comments by becoming the boxer her mom and sister never believed in, and showing Frank that she will make it before 37 only if he gives her a chance by training her. This is powerful, there is not a lot of good sport movies that show this in a realistic way. Take the Blind Side for an example, the movie is about a black boy who was poor and lucked out by finding a white family to take him in. Though the movie was okay and it is based on a true story it still does not stew up the same emotions you feel for Maggie. The reason is because Maggie hurdling through her barriers was much more realistic where you can name a few people that have been or have similar experience as her, where in the Blind Side it is not.
Overall this movie is stellar even with its slow storyline. It is a movie you would love to see because it is a sport movie that has not been made in a long time as a good as this one. You have realism, great acting, camera work that make you feel in the moment with the characters, as well as Morgan Freeman’s narration throughout the movie.
Overall this movie is stellar even with its slow storyline. It is a movie you would love to see because it is a sport movie that has not been made in a long time as a good as this one. You have realism, great acting, camera work that make you feel in the moment with the characters, as well as Morgan Freeman’s narration throughout the movie.
In this scene Maggie enters the ring to fight for the title belt.