Million Dollar Baby

[The Masked Akeem]

Best film of the year (2004). Truly.

Clint Eastwood hits another home run, telling an awesome story from beginning to end. That's the great thing about Eastwood's directed films since Unforgiven. They're all story and they don't attempt to overpower you with bullshit, one-dimensional one-note characters, CGI overload or plot inconsistencies you could drive a truck through.

If you're looking for the usual "Style over substance" crap that passes for quality these days (Ie: Kill Bill), then skip this film. This is pure story substance with an understated style all its own.

[Steve72]

I agree, Million Dollar Baby was one of the best films that came out last year. I think you hit the nail on the head as far as the characters go--they are incredibly well written and well casted.

The last act certainly threw me for a loop.

However, I was a little annoyed with some of the inaccuracies, particularly regarding Maggie's last fight. As a boxing fan, that sort of thing was just way too unbelieveable (in fact, that German fighter was just BS all together.) Also, the fact that Clint Eastwood is a top trainer made me "chuckle", since nearly all good boxing trainers in Socal are black or latino LOL

Also, the church scenes were shot at my parish/former elemetary school.

While Eastwood's movies have been fairly well made, I absolutely hated Mystic River. FUCK THAT MOVIE.

Mystic River was pretty great for me up until the last minute or two. They fucked up that parade scene.

Justin

[Ruben]

I attempted to watch Mystic River and that shit was attrocious. I really attempted to "get into" the movie, but it was not happening. Maybe because I was trying to watch Fire Marshall Bill as a serious actor, I really can't quite put my finger on it.

I liked Collateral

Your post made no sense, friend.

Justin (trying to be helpful)

[Bill Pender]

Originally Posted by Ruben

I attempted to watch Mystic River and that shit was attrocious. I really attempted to "get into" the movie, but it was not happening. Maybe because I was trying to watch Fire Marshall Bill as a serious actor, I really can't quite put my finger on it.

I liked Collateral

What?

[Scrub]

I finally went out and caught this movie, and I must agree with everyone in this thread, and say that this is arguably the best movie of 2004. It is most deserving of all the awards it has won (it's won awards, right?).

Grand Olympic Auditorium makes a cameo!

Originally Posted by Steve72

The last act certainly threw me for a loop.

Oh, most definitely. I sure wasn't expecting that...







SPOILER!!!!









Depressing finish, but very well told story. I would have liked the happier ending, but maybe that's too cliche these days. Everyone was talking about Eastwood and Swank, but I thought Morgan Freeman did an excellent job as well. Danger was an awesome character too. And at the end, when it was revealed that Freeman was writing his narration to Eastwood's estranged daughter, I thought that was awesome.

And during that last fight, is that even possible? Wouldn't her opponent have been DQ'd already?

So once again, great movie. I would recommend this flick to anyone and everyone.

And I still like Kill Bill.

[SabuFan316]

I guess I should see it then

As for Mystic River, that was 2003 I thought. I really disliked this movie. I found it to be a letdown and nothing surprisngly unique. Unless im missing something, which I could be. It seemed like the plots of alot of movies Ive seen put together into one. The whole you killed my child, the "innocent but weird person" thing, and we were all friends when we were young (set in New York or New Jersey) thing. I know you could probably say that about alot of movies, but it just seemed apparent here. Just nothing capitvating for me.

Id like to know why this movie was good. Thats just how I saw it.

I liked it because I thought it was brilliantly acted and directed. Penn, Bacon, and Robbins all put in fantastic performances. Penn is a bit of an over-actor, but I give him credit for trying. Eastwood's choice of camera angles and colors are moving. He has heavy-handed symbolism, but I once again give him credit for trying. The main characters were very well developed, with some stuff I think going over the heads of some people that watched it.

Most people seem to see Robbins character as a victim, but the point of the movie was that although he was innocent in one way, he was still a predator. He was a pedophile as well and the fact that his own childhood molestation may have influenced this development made the story more of a tragedy.

The movie completley went crazy during the last 2 minutes, with Laura Linney's transformation being totally jarring and not particularly good acting or writing. The final parade scene was bizarrely cute and out of place compared to the rest of the film's morose and somber mood.

I loved the movie up until the wretched ending.

Justin

[Steve72]

Originally Posted by Justin Crast

I liked it because I thought it was brilliantly acted and directed. Penn, Bacon, and Robbins all put in fantastic performances. Penn is a bit of an over-actor, but I give him credit for trying. Eastwood's choice of camera angles and colors are moving. He has heavy-handed symbolism, but I once again give him credit for trying. The main characters were very well developed, with some stuff I think going over the heads of some people that watched it.

Most people seem to see Robbins character as a victim, but the point of the movie was that although he was innocent in one way, he was still a predator. He was a pedophile as well and the fact that his own childhood molestation may have influenced this development made the story more of a tragedy.

The movie completley went crazy during the last 2 minutes, with Laura Linney's transformation being totally jarring and not particularly good acting or writing. The final parade scene was bizarrely cute and out of place compared to the rest of the film's morose and somber mood.

I loved the movie up until the wretched ending.

Justin

How exactly was Dave a pedophile in the movie? I don't remember him molesting anyone.

From what I gathered the ending in the book was a lot less subtle then the movie, and apparently turned out better.

Penn's overacting was just too much and ruined the film for me.

He gave the big speech about vampires and his whole talk about turning into a vampire and becoming one of these creatures. It looked like a symbollic speech about him turning into a pedophile himself, even though he despised those "creatures" himself. I dunno if you have the movie or have any desire to watch it again, but if you watch that scene, I think its pretty clear what he is alluding to. His wife's response and terror afterwards seems to indicate that she understands what's going on as well.

I'm not sure if this is fair or not, but the book is much more explicit in why he killed that dude with the male prostitute as well.

Justin

[Scrub]

This thread is about Maggie Fitzgerald! Fuck you Justin.

[SabuFan316]

You read Justin! Thats cheating.