"All right. I'm gonna disconnect your air machine, then you're gonna go to sleep. Then I'll give you a shot, and you'll... stay asleep. Mo cuishle means "My darling, my blood." "Frank to Maggie (last heart rending scene)
So I'll attempt to write a review. Attempt, because usually, my so-called reviews turn out to be "blurbs" and "disjointed" thoughts. Whatever. Here goes nothing.
Rating: 4 stars out of 4
Cast:
Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Synopsis: (yahoomovies)
In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, boxing trainer Frankie Dunn has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a very long time--then Maggie Fitzgerald walks into his gym. In a life of constant struggle, Maggie's gotten herself this far on raw talent, unshakable focus and a tremendous force of will. But more than anything, she wants someone to believe in her. The last thing Frankie needs is that kind of responsibility-- let alone that kind of risk--but won over by Maggie's sheer determination, he begrudgingly agrees to take her on. In turns exasperating and inspiring each other, the two come to discover that they share a common spirit that transcends the pain and loss of their pasts, and they find in each other a sense of family they lost long ago. Yet, they both face a battle that will demand more heart and courage than any they've ever known.
Review: (got spoilers)
I thought I'd be watching just another "boxing movie". You know how it is, rookie trains, loses, gets hurt, recovers, makes a comeback, kicks the rival's ass, gets the girl and everybody comes out happy. If you've seen all the Rocky Movies, you definitely know what I'm talking about. Call it Rocky-female-version. But I was wrong. Dead wrong. And I'm happy about it. :)
"I don't train girls.", that's what Frank "Frankie" Dunn (Clint Eastwood) told Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald when the latter asked if the veteran boxing trainor could take her under his wing. But Maggie's dogged determination eventually won him over (she comes to the gym everyday - because she paid 6 months of membership Frank can't just toss her away- , practices even if Frank and everyone else just mostly ignore her.) Maggie comes from a poor white trash background, she works as a waitress during the day to support herself (her family by the way, was a bunch of parasites - her mother, brother, and sister were all Welfare dependent freaks with very repulsive attitudes - very evident when Maggie was paralyzed, - her mother once told her "everybody talks about what you do -being a woman boxer- and they laugh. Go find yourself a man. Live proper." Live proper! Ha!). She's a very determined person - took to eating customer leftovers to save what meager income she has.
Frank on the other hand is, at first glance, an abrasive, grouchy and generally unpleasant man (given to bouts of sarcasm ad pessimism). He goes to church every week - yet does nothing but argue with the priest about wether or not God exists.heh. He' also estranged from his daughter (he writes her, but the letters always come back everytime.) But of course there is more to Frank than meets the eye. (again evident when Maggie was paralyzed - from the neck down- after the championship fight and the way he treats her even before the incident - very sweet -.)
Anyway, like I said, Frank finally agrees to train Maggie , after much persuation from various sources - most notably Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (Morgan Freeman), former boxing champ-now Gym maintenance after losing his eye on a fight - then left to rot away by his manager. Frank's friend and "conscience" .
Maggie and Frank had a father-daughter, mentor-student relationship.
...to be continued...
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