# 143 Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby tells us a story about an old boxing coach who owns a small gym, and eventually decides to start coaching a female boxer. This is another classic from Clint Eastwood, and, just like in Unforgiven and Grand Torino (which I got to see earlier than Million Dollar Baby), he is a director AND one of the lead actors.

I love boxing movies, even though I'm not a big fan of boxing, but somehow boxing movies usually turn out to be the most dramatic and emotional out of all sports movies. But only part of this film is about boxing. Here comes a spoiler... After a serious injury, the main character, played by Hilary Swank, is paralyzed and has to be ventilated.  I think the question of euthanasia is very complex. I definitely don't think that everyone who is disabled and can't take care of themselves lives a meaningless life. I admire those who find something to live for in situations like this, and I understand why some people say that this movie sends the wrong message. But at the same time I think Eastwood did a great job showing us how the main character came down to this choice in this particular situation.

Clint Eastwood's character in this film is psychologically very similar to his character in Grand Torino. I personally find his relationship with the church very interesting. As for Hilary Swank, I think this is the movie where she showed that she is an outstanding actress. Morgan Freeman appears in several Eastwood's movies, and I think that he was a good choice for this role. There are some cliches in the movie, especially when showing the main character's white trash family, but it didn't look that bad, at least it didn't bother me.

I can't say I've learned anything new from this film. All these things have been written about in books and shown in other movies. It did, however, remind me about something important.

Favorite quote: "If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you".

Interesting fact: Boxing and kick-boxing champion Lucia Rijker, who also plays the part of Billie "The Blue Bear" in the film, was Hilary Swank's boxing coach.