Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman

Margaret Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is a waitress who aspires to be a boxer.  She begins frequenting the Hit Pit, a gym owned and operated by the genius boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood).  She seeks out Dunn as a trainer.  Having no interest in training women, he strongly declines the offer.  Persistently, Maggie continues to frequent the gym and finds a mentor in gym employee and former boxer Eddie “Scrap Irons” Dupris (Morgan Freeman).  Eventually, Frankie recognizes her persistence and reluctantly agrees to train her.  Frankie helps Maggie start a boxing career full of triumph and plenty of tragedy.

Million Dollar Baby is undoubtedly the most depressing sports film I have ever seen.  You’re just emotionally spent after Frankie and Maggie’s tragic journey.  Despite this, Million Dollar Baby is one awesome flick.  Clint Eastwood shows that he’s a master director and that he’s the iconic figure for grumpy old American men everywhere.  Morgan Freeman gives a raw yet grandfatherly performance as Eddie Dupris, and Hilary Swank delivers her greatest performance to date as the scrappy boxer Maggie.  You will need some alcohol after Million Dollar Baby.  There’s some heavy stuff, but don’t miss out on this modern classic.