Rated PG-13 for violence, some disturbing images, thematic material and language.
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman
The daughter he never had.
The father she never had.
A perfect match.
I’ll be honest . . . I’m not always fond of the Academy’s choice for best picture, actor and actress. But they nailed it with 2004’s Best Picture, Million Dollar Baby.
Veteran boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) runs a gym with his friend Eddie (Freeman). Life isn’t easy for Frankie—his latest boxer just dumped him, his daughter won’t respond to his letters, and he still carries the guilt from Eddie’s decades-old eye injury.
Then Maggie (Swank) enters Frankie’s life . . . a girl determined to become a fighter. Frankie refuses at first. “Girlie tough ain’t enough. Sorry girlie, I don’t train females.” But Maggie’s persistence and Eddie’s encouragement to help her finally convince Frankie to cave.
Maggie shows incredible skill and he career blossoms. But the final match isn’t fought in the ring.
Clint Eastwood directs his best work since Unforgiven. And performing alongside Morgan Freeman once again, he pulls off more than a great film . . . he tells an incredible story.
If you haven’t heard about this story- don’t talk to anyone about the film. Just rent it. You’ll enjoy the film better if you don’t know some of the major plot points.
One interesting sub-plot is Frankie’s experience with the church. He daily goes to Mass and talks with the priest afterwards. The priest shows little tolerance for Frankie and actually advises him to give up on church. But Frankie persists.
Frankie Dunn: Father, that was a great sermon… made me weep.
Father Horvak: What’s confusing you this week?
Frankie Dunn: Oh, it’s the same old, “one God-three God thing.”
Father Horvak: Frankie, most people figure out by kindergarten that it’s about faith.
Frankie Dunn: Is it sort of like Snap Crackle and Pop, all rolled into one big box?
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?Young kids probably shouldn’t see this. I most likely wouldn’t show it to young teens either. Although there’s no senseless sexuality or violence, the subject matter is mature and the issues dealt with in this film aren’t necessarily issues that young kids need to be thinking about.
The film has a bit of profanity: 1 “f” word, 3 “s” words, and a cornucopia of others. It’s no Joe Pesci film, but it has enough.
The film has no sex or nudity, but it has a scene where some boxers are making fun of Maggie’s small breasts, referring to them as “little bitty t***ies.” There are also the typical women in bikinis holding the “round 1” signs at the boxing matches.
You can also help make up your mind by checking out kidsinmind.com's web site.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
