Million Dollar Baby

Director Clint Eastwood pulls no punches in this devastating and gritty film-noir boxing drama, an emotional tour de force that uncovers the callused heart of the sport ("Boxin' is about respect--gettin' it for yourself, taking it away from the other guy"). Narrated with gravelly gravitas by Morgan Freeman, playing a washed-up fighter now mopping floors at a gym, the film stars Eastwood as a fatigued former trainer who reluctantly agrees to coach Maggie (Hilary Swank), a novice woman boxer tethered to her white-trash upbringing with a psychological bungee cord--the more she pulls away, the harder her past snaps back and hits her from behind. As a sports film, Million Dollar Baby is among the finest, but in the later rounds Eastwood delivers a stunning left hook that takes the narrative into the depths of the human soul. Taking home Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actress (Swank), and Supporting Actor (Freeman), among others, this is easily Eastwood's best since his Academy Award-winning 1992 film Unforgiven. Highly recommended. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions or a three-disc widescreen version with a CD soundtrack, DVD extras include the “James Lipton Takes on Three” roundtable discussion with Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman moderated by Inside the Actors Studio's James Lipton (23 min.), a 20-minute “Born to Fight” featurette on women in boxing, the 13-minute “The Producers Round 15” behind-the-scenes featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a rather small extras package for this year's Oscar winner for Best Picture.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 11, 2014—Warner, 132 min., PG-13, $19.98—Making its second appearance on Blu-ray, 2004's Million Dollar Baby features a decent transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras new to this release include audio commentary by producer Albert Ruddy and the behind-the-scenes retrospective featurette “On the Ropes” (26 min.). Extras from previous releases include a “James Lipton Takes on Three” roundtable discussion with costars Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman, moderated by Lipton (23 min.), a “Born to Fight” featurette on women in boxing (20 min.), the “The Producers Round 15” behind-the-scenes featurette (13 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: if you already own the initial Blu-ray release, there's not much reason to upgrade; if you don't, this meatier version is definitely recommended.]