Million Dollar Baby 10th Anniversary

[Jed Cooper]

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Million Dollar Baby.  Weigh in with your thoughts and memories.  Is this a favorite of yours?  What were your first impressions?  Where did you see it first, on the big or little screen?  Do you remember who you were with and whether or not they enjoyed it?  How do you feel about this film today?

[Lin Sunderland]

I drove a l o n g way to see this movie when it first came out. It is another one that needs to be seen on the big screen. I did like it but not as much as I expected. Subsequent viewings have altered my thoughts on it and now it ranks quite high in my Eastwood movie list.  I felt I missed things the first time I saw it and reading discussions on the board opened the movie up to me. Finding things that other people had mentioned joined it together for me and I saw it in a totally different light. 

[Jed Cooper]

Thanks for sharing, Lin. 

Since Bridges Of Madison County, my wife and I have seen every Eastwood movie he's starred in together.  We both enjoyed this one very much.  I think Freeman and Eastwood together are a great combination and wish they'd make another one together.  It's been a couple of years since I've seen Million Dollar Baby but it's always good to watch.

[Christopher]

I made it to the theater to see Million Dollar Baby... and I've never seen it since then!   I liked it, but I've never felt any overwhelming desire to watch it again. I don't even own the DVD of it.

[Jed Cooper]

I made it to the theater to see Million Dollar Baby... and I've never seen it since then!   I liked it, but I've never felt any overwhelming desire to watch it again. I don't even own the DVD of it.

Wow, interesting.  Thanks for sharing.  Well, if you suddenly have a burning desire to check it out again, it'd be great to hear your thoughts on it now.

[Christopher]

Yeah, I did know some major spoilers going into it, or I'd read enough to know some of the major plot turns. I'm sure I'll take another look at it at some point here.

[-satu-]

I have a feeling I saw this in a theater back then. I was 16  amazing how time flies.

I've lost count with this one. I've seen it many, many times. Definitely one of my favorites. Strong feelings and a couple of teardrops, that's what this film always does to me. 

[antonis]

As always I have to see every Eastwood film the opening day.
Short of a tradition.
Short of an obligation.

The day MDB was released was really hard but,I finally made it.
My wife came along too.
I like the film very much and think it is one if Clint's best.A true masterpiece.
One the other hand my wife couldn't stop crying during the viewing and can't stand watching it another time since

[Jed Cooper]

As always I have to see every Eastwood film the opening day.
Short of a tradition.
Short of an obligation.

A great tradition and not such a bad obligation! 

I like the film very much and think it is one if Clint's best.A true masterpiece.

I agree! 

The day MDB was released was really hard but,I finally made it.
My wife came along too.
One the other hand my wife couldn't stop crying during the viewing and can't stand watching it another time since

Wow, sorry to hear that.     My wife almost left Changeling due to the subject matter.  Our son was just a couple of years old at the time and she found it very unnerving.  She managed, though.  I haven't seen it since (yet) and I'm not sure she'd want to, so I understand and can relate.  Thanks for sharing, antonis! 

[Jed Cooper]

I'm on an Eastwood movie anniversary kick.  So far I've watched A Fistful Of Dollars, Tightrope and City Heat.  I no longer own Thunderbolt And Lightfoot so I'll have to figure something out.  I watched Million Dollar Baby last night and enjoyed it all over again.  It's almost hard to believe 10 years has passed since this came out.  I thought the acting was superb by all involved, especially the leads.  I love the interaction between Eastwood & Freeman and Eastwood & Swank.  Such a sad story but what a great film!  For me, this and Gran Torino are Clint's best latter day performances. 

[Perry]

Brilliant movie.. Hard to believe this and Gran Torino are the only movies I have liked of his the past 10 years

[Jed Cooper]

Brilliant movie.. Hard to believe this and Gran Torino are the only movies I have liked of his the past 10 years

I can understand why and can certainly relate. 

[Rawhide7]

Million Dollar baby is a very good movie!  However for me personally its not one that I like a lot.  I mean dont get me wrong I do like it and it is a very good movie but for me its just not one of my favorite Eastwood movies. Its probably not even in my top 20 favorite Eastwood movies. Without spoiling anything I just didnt like how the movie ended.  For some reason its just not one that I want to watch all of the time. Even though I do own it on dvd.  I apologize to and respect those who really like this movie a lot but I'm just giving my opinion on how I feel about this movie.  Like Brian said Eastwood and Freeman are very good together and I also wish they would do another movie together.  Maybe this film will grow on me and I will think differently about it down the road like Lin stated.

[Jed Cooper]

Million Dollar baby is a very good movie!  However for me personally its not one that I like a lot.  I mean dont get me wrong I do like it and it is a very good movie but for me its just not one of my favorite Eastwood movies. Its probably not even in my top 20 favorite Eastwood movies. Without spoiling anything I just didnt like how the movie ended.  For some reason its just not one that I want to watch all of the time. Even though I do own it on dvd.  I apologize to and respect those who really like this movie a lot but I'm just giving my opinion on how I feel about this movie.  Like Brian said Eastwood and Freeman are very good together and I also wish they would do another movie together.  Maybe this film will grow on me and I will think differently about it down the road like Lin stated.

I know exactly what you mean and how you feel.  Had the ending been different, I'd probably like this movie a lot more.  It's tough liking and even enjoying a movie like this a whole lot, never mind frequently.  To me, it's not the kind I want to return to repeatedly not because of the subject matter, but because of how it ended.  Well, then again, I'm going to contradict myself here.  Perhaps it is the subject matter because Gran Torino is a movie I like returning to moreso than Million Dollar Baby.  It's almost hard to figure out and explain why.  I think I'd enjoy Gran Torino about the same had it ended differently.  Maybe that's becuase the fate involves Clint's character, not another.  Maybe it's because the fate of Walt is also the climax of the movie, unlike the fate of Maggie's, which comes much earlier and thus takes a sharp left turn for the remainder of the story.  It's almost like a jolt, or slap in the face because you're almost certain of where the story is going and then all of a sudden, things change. 

Very interesting, Rawhide 7, thanks for sharing.   

[Rawhide7]

Okay came home from work the other night and wanted to watch a movie late at night.  I opened my dvd movie cabinet looking for a movie to watch and staring me in the face was Million Dollar Baby.  So I said why not go ahead and watch it.  I actually enjoyed it a little bit more this time around.  Espicially the first 3/4 of the movie right up to the final fight.  Still dont care for how it ended.  Even though I tell myself its just a movie its not real.  But for some reason the ending of this movie just bothers me.  Not just how she got hurt which is the obvious but also how her family acted towards her.  I guess I would rather it have a happy dramatic ending to it.  More like a feel good movie.  Much like how Rocky 2 ended where Rocky and Apollo both fall down at the same time and Rocky got up and won with one second count left.  But most movies end with that type of feeling so I guess Eastwood wanted to do something different. And I understand that.  You go from being really happy for Maggie then all of a sudden your sad and upset.  But that's movie making for you.  They want you to have different emotions throughout the movie plus that could have happened in real life.  Summing this up this is a very good movie.  All the actors did a very good job.  Its probably Hillary Swanks best performance to date.  I just wish the ending was different.  So in my future watchings of this movie I may turn it off right before the final fight begins and then have my own ending in my mind.  I know I sound weak minded but I have and at times  seen some pretty horrific horror movies that are really bad and various other movies that are pretty gruesome and they dont bother me like the ending of Million Dollar Baby does. Due to the fact that Million Dollar Baby is more realistic and could actually happen in real life.

[KC]

I think that's a very good assessment, Rawhide7. I feel exactly the same way about it ... the ending is almost unbearable, because it's too much like real life and doesn't allow us the "feel good" ending of most movies (even the ones that don't have "happy endings").

I agree that the scenes with her family are a bit "over the top." What happened to her physically was wrenching enough, it wasn't necessary to show her family piling greed and cruelty on top of that.

[Jed Cooper]

I definitely would have preferred a happy ending myself; perhaps Maggie going to college and being successful there, as has been suggested.  Or, perhaps, not as extensive damage to her as portrayed but rather see her make a comeback, including a defeat of the fighter that caused her harm.  Either of those scenarios is definitely preferable because as stated, the ending as we know it is too much like real life.  I agree that the ending is definitely a downer and don't blame those who'd rather not see it or are turned off of this movie because of it.  But, for msyelf, being an Eastwood fan, I do enjoy what Eastwood has done here.  It would be more difficult for me to accept it had Eastwood not been in it at all.  Since it's release, I think I've watched this movie from start to end maybe two or three times.  I've probably seen Gran Torino more and that has a bad ending for Eastwood's character.  Perhaps it's easier to accept the consequences in GT because Walt make a conscious choice to sacrfifice himself, to help Thao and Sue and even becoming a local hero in the process, whereas in MDB it's Frankie that assists in Maggie's demise.  I think a big part of my liking GT more than MDB is because while the latter is a great enemble piece between Eastwood, Freeman and Swank, GT feels more like a 'Clint Eastwood film' in the tradition sense.  There are supporting players but Clint is the main character and star in Gran Torino.  Love him or hate him, you're drawn into what's going to happen by the end of the movie. 

Well, at least Trouble With The Curve had a happy ending.    

[Rawhide7]

I definitely would have preferred a happy ending myself; perhaps Maggie going to college and being successful there, as has been suggested.  Or, perhaps, not as extensive damage to her as portrayed but rather see her make a comeback, including a defeat of the fighter that caused her harm.  Either of those scenarios is definitely preferable because as stated, the ending as we know it is too much like real life.  I agree that the ending is definitely a downer and don't blame those who'd rather not see it or are turned off of this movie because of it.  But, for msyelf, being an Eastwood fan, I do enjoy what Eastwood has done here.  It would be more difficult for me to accept it had Eastwood not been in it at all.  Since it's release, I think I've watched this movie from start to end maybe two or three times.  I've probably seen Gran Torino more and that has a bad ending for Eastwood's character.  Perhaps it's easier to accept the consequences in GT because Walt make a conscious choice to sacrfifice himself, to help Thao and Sue and even becoming a local hero in the process, whereas in MDB it's Frankie that assists in Maggie's demise.  I think a big part of my liking GT more than MDB is because while the latter is a great enemble piece between Eastwood, Freeman and Swank, GT feels more like a 'Clint Eastwood film' in the tradition sense.  There are supporting players but Clint is the main character and star in Gran Torino.  Love him or hate him, you're drawn into what's going to happen by the end of the movie. 

Well, at least Trouble With The Curve had a happy ending.   

Yap and I actually liked Trouble with the Curve.  And Im in the minority when it comes to liking that movie at least here on this site.  Like you stated above Jed I think having her come back and fight that same fighter that hurt her and have Maggie win would have been a perfect ending to this movie.  And had it ended that way I think Million Dollar Baby would then be in my top 10 favorite Eastwood movies for sure.  But Eastwood is always thinking outside the box and wanted to do something different.  I just wish he would have ended this particular movie like how you suggested Jed!

[KC]

I've edited Rawhide7's post (above) so you could see where the quotation stopped and his own reply began. Hope you don't mind, Rawhide7.

I removed Jed Cooper's last post because it was off topic.

As to the potential happy ending: that would have been a different movie altogether, one that is obvious and trite. What makes Million Dollar Baby great is the extreme reversal of its ending. It makes what had been Maggie's rags-to-riches story into Frankie's high tragedy, as Maggie is the victim of an accident, but Frankie is the one who is confronted with a horrible moral dilemma. It starts out like a conventional triumphalist Hollywood boxing movie, and then the ending turns it into Eastwood's King Lear. That is just my opinion, of course.

[Rawhide7]

No problem at all KC.   And you made a very good point!  The tragedy not only affected Maggie of course but also Frankie who now has to live with it for the rest of his life.  The movie takes a huge turn which really catches you by surprise.  Very good point KC!