MOVIE: Million Dollar Baby

Today I watched Million Dollar Baby starring Hillary Swank (Maggie the boxer to be), Clint Eastwood (Frankie the grizzly coach & boxing club owner) & Morgan Freeman (Eddie Frankies boxing friend who narrates this tragic story) - a SUPER combination of acting talents that add so much depth to this story. The interaction between these 3 characters was touching, tender & emotional. It is a story about people that live on nothing but their dreams and how they handle their realities. When this movie first came out, my initial reaction was - another Rocky movie, only with a female as the central character. There might be some similar themes but there are many original twists & turns to this story line that totally differ from Rocky.

Our main character, Maggie, is driven & dedicated to achieving her dream of becoming a top boxer. She is the underdog, coming from a very poor, trailer park background, and works as a waitress in a diner to support herself, scrounging uneaten food left behind on the plates of her customers and carefully saving every penny for her mother & whatever she has leftover for herself. She joins Frankie's boxing gym in LA so she can learn about the world of boxing. At the same time, she hopes to convince Frankie to become her coach which is quickly declined, repeatedly. But Maggie's devotion and enthusiasm for boxing, day after day for hours at a time, eventually results in acceptance. First Eddie & then grudgingly Frankie who does not realise that this will turn into the warmest relationship of loyalty, mutual respect and genuine love. Frankie struggles to reconnect with his daughter who has not spoke to him for many years but is unsuccessful. But he is successful at bonding with Maggie on the deepest level. With Maggie & Frankie there is a emotional & professional connection that grows stronger & stronger till the ultimate ending - an ending that will shock you. I cried for the last 30 minutes of this film which was just so heartbreaking sad - ya ya ya - crying again but you will too! Let me know what your feelings were about this movie.