Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Pat O'Connor - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over, 15 years and over - Starring: Geraldine O'Rawe, Colin Firth, Saffron Burrows, Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
"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."
-- Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris:
It is perhaps unfair to label MillionDollarBaby as a "Female version of Rocky". But for a majority of the film's first half, the focus upon the trainer and fighter brings notable similarities to Stallone's once developing relationship with Burgess Meredith.
Being the avid Rocky fan that I am, I can only commend this film for igniting such nostalgia. That said, the film offers so much more than a female reboot of this boxing classic: MillionDollarbaby is emotionally challenging, thought provocative; on the whole, ultimately engaging.
Based on the collection of short stories titled ...
Advantages: Hilary Swank Disadvantages: Slow-moving at the start
Introduction
Few won't have heard of this film, which walked away with four academy awards for best motion picture, best achievement in direction, best actress in a leading role for Hilary Swank and best actor in a supporting role for Morgan Freeman. Boxing is really not my thing and the thought of watching a whole film about it really didn't appeal, but I loved Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry and it's for her alone that I watched this film. I wasn't disappointed. Hilary Swank is a superb actress and deserves every award that comes her way.
The director
Clint Eastwood has always been well-known as an actor in films such as Dirty Harry and Rawhide, but he has also moved into direction over the past few years, with such films as Bridges Over Madison County, Mystic River and MillionDollarBaby. He also had major roles in Bridges Over ...
Advantages: Wonderfully understated story and performances Disadvantages: Dramatic shift in tone may be off putting for some
the performances have been and how they've drawn you into the story. The film successfully side-steps cliché and schmaltz, and Clint certainly has the courage of his convictions. At turns moving, funny and shocking, MillionDollarBaby is a compelling, character driven drama which never pulls it's punches.
Visual and Audio
Lovely picture presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1. The coulours are particularly sharp, especially so in the fight scenes. The sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround with English subtitles optional. The sound is very good, again the standouts being the fight scenes where you can hear every resounding crunch. Overall it's a good transfer.
Bonus Material
Born to fight (19 mins)
This is the tried and tested DVD extra in which the cast talk to the camera before being repeatedly interrupted by footage ...
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