Darn that Hilary Swank. Just when I thought no performance deserved an Oscar more than Imelda Staunton I had to go see Million Dollar Baby. Let me just say that if Staunton does not win (and I believe she still has the edge) there has not been a year in recent history when a tie would be more appropriate.
Swank is a marvel. I thought that the pairing of actress/role in Boys Don't Cry was one of those magical moments that happen once in a career. Not so. It was no fluke.
I have never been a huge Eastwood fan, but this is by far his best work ever as a director and certainly the best-acted role of his career. And is it just me, or did he look a lot like Paul Newman?
And it nice to see Morgan Freeman is a part worthy of his talent as opposed to the crap he has been doing the last few years.
I was very moved by the themes of Family and Forgiveness. What a sad, sad film.
I did have some problems with the subplot involving "Danger", the young mentally challenged kid who hangs out at the gym. It seemed a bit fragmented and I thought there must be some scenes that didn't make the final cut that could have clarified his relationships and tie him in thematically a bit more.
PEACE.