Million Dollar Baby

Rudey · #1 01-24-2005, 12:07 PM

Has anyone else seen this?

The movie itself was a first round knockout in my opinion in terms of getting hit with something you don't expect.

The message of living your life to the fullest was not demonstrated as I wished.

All in all, I loved the movie up until that "knockout" and, at that point, I not only hated the film but thought the whole ending was beyond unnecessary and left you feeling incredibly upset.

-Rudey

James · #2 01-29-2005, 12:31 PM

This movie was not about a girl boxing.

The boxing was an articulation of the characters not the point of the movie.

Rudey is right about one thing. Had the movie ended at the end of the second act I would have left the movie happy and uplifted. And I think if the story had been a screen play from the beginning hollywood would have done that (its adapted from a book). Or maybe just ended it after the "twist".

But then the movie would have been less about the people involved and more about wishfulfillment.

Instead the third act is dramatically and emotionally relentless.

ITs not melodrama like so many other movies where mood is exagerated, its poignancy is a simple stark portrayal of a human condition most of us do not ever want to think about. Don't leave the theatre during the third act, every scene shows some aspect of pain.

I left the movie dustirbed and glad I went by myself. Having someone there prattling would have ruined the experience.

Go see this movie.

James · #3 01-29-2005, 08:37 PM

Did no one else on grekchat see this movie? Its a great movie to talk about.

DolphinChicaDDD · #4 01-30-2005, 02:02 AM

Just came back from it...and I cried my freakin eyes out. Seriously. Someone should have warned me not to walk into the theater with just one tissue.

Overall, I thought it was a very good movie. I thought Hillary Swank was awesome, because she touched me as an athlete. Not many films can do that; it made me think about how much I bitch that can't run competitivly anymore, when I'm actually pretty damn lucky to still be able to do that.

It was not at all what I expected, and was kind of shocked at what happened.

I think everyone should see the moive.

KellyO97 · #5 01-30-2005, 11:56 AM

I saw Million Dollar Baby last night and can't stop thinking about it today. I thought it was phenomenal. The movie tackled so many topics--regret and second chances, relationships between children and parents (actual or symbolic), the right to die--but it did it in a way that it seemed effortless. Not to mention that the fighting scenes were excellent, and Hillary Swank made me want to get my butt to the gym.

Yes, the end was emotional. I cried my eyes out. But I think if it didn't end that way, it would have been just another sports movie (think Rudy).

Sidenote: I LOVED when Morgan Freeman got to win "fight #110".

Rudey · #6 01-30-2005, 04:30 PM

But there is a difference between emotional toying that occurs in a movie like "Saving Private Ryan" and this movie.

For example, what was the need for the leg amputation? It moved beyond the necessary and beyond the useful and was nothing but pure punishment. It's like a choreographing of prize fighting from 90 years ago or muay thai in some unregulated match - a guy is down for the count and next thing you know the victor decides to kick him. It is clear that the "match" (not boxing match if you understand me - I'm not being literal) is over, but the amputation is a pure, unnecessary kick.

You don't leave this movie feeling like a better person. The sadness and emotional turbulence is the goal in and of itself.

-Rudey

KellyO97 · #7 01-30-2005, 05:24 PM

The point is, that is precisely what happens to the paralized. Part of Christopher Reeve's deterioriation was due to infections from sores, and he had the best care money could buy. The movie painted a stark and truthful picture of what might push someone to want to end their own life. Maggie had seen the world and experienced amazing success prior to the fight, and boxing made her feel powerful. Now she was literally having everything taken away from her, including her body, which had been a source of that power.

I don't think they are toying with us. It does force you to imagine yourself in that type of existence, which can be overwhelming.

Rudey · #8 01-30-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KellyO97
The point is, that is precisely what happens to the paralized. Part of Christopher Reeve's deterioriation was due to infections from sores, and he had the best care money could buy. The movie painted a stark and truthful picture of what might push someone to want to end their own life. Maggie had seen the world and experienced amazing success prior to the fight, and boxing made her feel powerful. Now she was literally having everything taken away from her, including her body, which had been a source of that power.

I don't think they are toying with us. It does force you to imagine yourself in that type of existence, which can be overwhelming.

The movie was not about becoming disabled or wanting to kill yourself. If it was, then that was a poor attempt and it wouldn't receive a single award. It's sole goal was to be an emotional knockout. If it was about paralysis, then she would have spent much more time on that spect in the movie. The event in the final fight was beyond improbable and what was its goal? Then to add salt to the wound, the leg amputation.

-Rudey

James · #9 01-30-2005, 06:19 PM

I can see what Rudey is saying. That the movie went over the top into a contrived drama . . .

But by the same token, Kelley097 is correct also in that amputation is a big risk with paralyzed people . . .

Although . . . don't they have a better treatment protocol for bed sores?

I think they through the amputation in there to better justify the final outcome . . to kind of make it even worse . . . and show the road down which she would travel.

Rudey · #10 01-30-2005, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
I can see what Rudey is saying. That the movie went over the top into a contrived drama . . .

But by the same token, Kelley097 is correct also in that amputation is a big risk with paralyzed people . . .

Although . . . don't they have a better treatment protocol for bed sores?

I think they through the amputation in there to better justify the final outcome . . to kind of make it even worse . . . and show the road down which she would travel.

So let's break the movie down:
4/5 of the movie is dedicated to the rise of a boxing star
In one second of cheating a girl becomes paralyzed in the most unliekly situations ever by falling unto a stool.
Then 1/5 of the movie is dedicated to a girl becoming a quadrapalegic.
After the unlikely event, a rushed amputation occurs.
One line towards the end from one actor occurs about how most people experience no winning and die every day but this girl experienced winning.
In one minute the girl is killed.

The way the movie evolved and the time it spent on certain aspects, definitely meant it wasn't a movie centered on injuries and shizzle. And I bet when the DVD comes out, the director's commentary will say that. Perhaps the book it's based on says it.

I felt the same way about this movie as I did with House of Sand and Fog. Except in House of Sand and Fog the sadness was the focus from the very beginning. There was no roller coaster. There was no quick one-two punch with a knockout affect.

-Rudey

xo_kathy · #11 01-31-2005, 10:59 AM

My fiance and I saw this yesterday. We both thought it was a very good movie, but agreed it didn't floor us the way we thought it would. And I am a crier, and I welled up for about half a second - when he told her what her name meant - and then nothing even came out. And I thought the hospital stuff just dragged on and on and on. It just didn't hit me that emotionally.

krazy · #12 02-04-2005, 04:28 PM

Well, you have to understand that the point of every movie is NOT to have you leave the theater feeling good. This movie wasn't a feel-good film. That said, I think it had good and bad qualities.

About the hospital stuff dragging on and on. I think this was what in writing we would call a literary technique, designed to deliberately convey meaning. It helps the viewer feel the endless torture that they were going through. I mean think about the misery she must have been in. Watching the clock, counting the seconds. Claustrophobia sets in quickly.

I was not surprised to see Hollywood throw in a few political statements as well. Of course they make the priest the butt of all the jokes, and blatantly make his advice seem stupid and heartless. You leave the film praising Eastwood for going against the advice of the heathen priest. To me, that was unneeded.