Acclaimed 'Baby' a real contender

By DAVE LARSEN
Dayton Daily News

Million Dollar Baby comes on like a traditional sports drama for much of its length, following a long-shot female prize-fighter who rises to the top under the guidance of a crusty old trainer who similarly has been banged around by life.

Then the film lands an emotional wallop, blind-siding you with a surprise plot twist that sends the story into a darker, more enriching direction.

Warner Bros. Pictures 'Million Dollar Baby' B+ Director: Clint Eastwood Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman Run time: 132 minutes Release date: Jan. 7, 2005 Rating: PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images, thematic material and language See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer   -- Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Million Dollar Baby":   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Nominated this week for seven Academy Awards, including best picture, Million Dollar Baby is a powerful, poignant film from director Clint Eastwood, based on a short story by veteran boxing cut-man F.X. Toole.

The spare, understated drama unfolds at a measured pace, focusing on character relationships over action in the ring.

Its core cast — Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman — all give rich, convincing performances, and each was honored this week with an Oscar nomination.

But like any contender, Million Dollar Baby is not without weaknesses.

The adaptation by screenwriter Paul Haggis relies on voice-over narration to convey the story. That's considered a "cheat" in filmmaking, movies being a visual medium.

The pivotal third-act plot twist may strike some as more manipulative than moving.

It hits upon a social issue that's sure to inspire debate, so you'll probably want to see the film soon, before some big-mouth spills its secret.

Eastwood stars as Frankie Dunn, "the best cut-man in the business," a contentious old-time trainer who runs a downtown Los Angeles gym with help from his closest friend, a one-eyed ex-boxer named Scrap (Freeman).

Estranged from his only daughter, Dunn attends Mass every day in search of the forgiveness that eludes him. But he's such a pain that his priest (Brian O'Byrne) suggests he just stay home.

Dumped by a heavyweight contender (Mike Colter) who has grown impatient waiting for his title shot, Dunn is approached by Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank), who asks him to train her. Scrap thinks that Maggie might be a natural, but Dunn says no, because she's too old and he doesn't train girls.

But Maggie, a dirt-poor waitress from the Ozarks who sees boxing as her only chance at a better life, beats down Dunn's resistance.

Gradually, a surrogate father-daughter relationship develops.

Million Dollar Baby is a downbeat yet uplifting film about faith, loss and love.

It's gritty and challenging, but it has humor as well as heart.

Eastwood applies his usual stripped-down approach to the material, jumping right into the story and delivering it with precision and restraint.

He plays the film's final third for gripping emotion, rather than heart-tugging sentiment.

The trio's performances have a natural quality that make their characters seem authentic and their friendships genuine.

Million Dollar Baby isn't as compelling as Eastwood's previous effort, Mystic River, which won Oscars for Sean Penn and Tim Robbins and earned nods for best picture and director.

But scoring an unexpected knock-out punch, it easily ranks among the best films of 2004.