High-priced Infantry
Scrappy, Iron
Ian Pugh
Issue date: 1/28/05 Section: Entertainment
One thing that's drilled into the minds of young film students is the idea that "everything's been done before; it's how you do it that matters." It's a concept that may have been running through the mind of Clint Eastwood as he directed Million Dollar Baby. After all, it's a boxing movie, right?
The Rocky series covered all the feel-good bases, and Raging Bull gave it the gritty reality that it needed. So what's the point in trying again? But you're talking to the man who reinvented the Western eight times over; if there's anyone who could take a tired genre and turn it into gold, it's him.
Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) is a boxing trainer who's been in the business for four decades; he's good at his job, and has trained a number of title-winning fighters with his subtle instructions. He is approached by Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), a thirty-one year old waitress from backwater beginnings.
She wants him to train her for one simple reason -- "fighting is what I do best." Although Frankie is hesitant at Maggie's age, he admires the woman's spunk and potential. Partially convinced by his partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), he gives in, and teaches her the ropes as her trainer -- and soon after, her manager. After several successful formal bouts, Maggie is itching for a title ?. Frankie thinks she needs more training, but he also knows that her fiery spirit can't be contained so easily.
"It's how you do it that matters." There's really nothing new about a female boxer movies (Girlfight), but Baby doesn't pretend that it is, avoiding any garbage involving "trying to fight her way through a man's world."
While there are some gender issues are discussed, they aren't dwelled upon -- more is made about Maggie's age than her sex. She knows that she can do it and doesn't let anything stand in the way of improving herself, so there's no point in talking about the obstacles.
It's a theme that follows Baby to the end: improving yourself no matter what and ignoring everything else. It doesn't just stand for Maggie, but for all the characters. Frankie is getting on in his years, at the time when most people would ease into retirement. He forges on, however, even going so far as to educate himself in poetry and the Gaelic language.
The Rocky series covered all the feel-good bases, and Raging Bull gave it the gritty reality that it needed. So what's the point in trying again? But you're talking to the man who reinvented the Western eight times over; if there's anyone who could take a tired genre and turn it into gold, it's him.
Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) is a boxing trainer who's been in the business for four decades; he's good at his job, and has trained a number of title-winning fighters with his subtle instructions. He is approached by Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), a thirty-one year old waitress from backwater beginnings.
She wants him to train her for one simple reason -- "fighting is what I do best." Although Frankie is hesitant at Maggie's age, he admires the woman's spunk and potential. Partially convinced by his partner Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), he gives in, and teaches her the ropes as her trainer -- and soon after, her manager. After several successful formal bouts, Maggie is itching for a title ?. Frankie thinks she needs more training, but he also knows that her fiery spirit can't be contained so easily.
"It's how you do it that matters." There's really nothing new about a female boxer movies (Girlfight), but Baby doesn't pretend that it is, avoiding any garbage involving "trying to fight her way through a man's world."
While there are some gender issues are discussed, they aren't dwelled upon -- more is made about Maggie's age than her sex. She knows that she can do it and doesn't let anything stand in the way of improving herself, so there's no point in talking about the obstacles.
It's a theme that follows Baby to the end: improving yourself no matter what and ignoring everything else. It doesn't just stand for Maggie, but for all the characters. Frankie is getting on in his years, at the time when most people would ease into retirement. He forges on, however, even going so far as to educate himself in poetry and the Gaelic language.
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