One of my most-anticipated films this year was Foxcatcher. Now that I saw it this past weekend, I will have a review for it soon, so be on the lookout! The anticipation of it got me thinking: why not write up a discussion on what are the best knockout films? Whether they include wrestling, martial arts, mixed martial arts, boxing, or even street fights (such as Fight Club), it’s always entertaining to come up with a “best of all-time” list. What films do you think should be included? Make sure you comment below. To get my ideas flowing, I had to pick one movie to revisit. I chose to watch the 2004 Best Picture winner, Million Dollar Baby.

Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is a 32-year-old woman who seems to work without end as a waitress at a local restaurant in Los Angeles. She has a dream that’s much bigger than that: to become a boxing champion. Boxing, though, is a man’s sport. That’s the way Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), a well-known trainer and owner of a local gym, sees it. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris (Morgan Freeman), is the heart of that gym and its caretaker. Maggie needs Frankie as a trainer, and he needs a hungry fighter. Together, they deliver one of the best acting duos in film.

Of all the boxing movies I’ve seen, this one is the most emotionally appealing. It may be 10 years old, but it transcends time because of the messages it has. If it were to be released today, I would imagine that it would be praised, and in the discussion of films to be nominated for Best Picture. There are technical aspects of it that I can analyze that deserve credit for its Oscar success, but the messages that it leaves you with are profound, and the character development is impressive. The combination of all those things make this film a masterpiece, in my humble opinion. Step into the ring to understand the journey these messages and characters will take you on.

An Uphill Battle

Regardless of what dream you hope to achieve, it will be a battle to do it. Maggie is a character who reminds you that no matter what your skill set, experience, or gender is, living your dream is possible when you refuse to quit, no matter what obstacles you will face. She reminds you that in the face of prejudice, discrimination, and sexism, you must step into the ring and fight because no one else will do it for you. When people doubted her, she let her work prove them wrong. An example of the doubt in Maggie’s abilities happens in her first conversation with Frankie. As she tries to make her case as to why he should train her, he responds with this: “Girlie, tough ain’t enough.”

She knew that it would take hard work to be a champion. So she spent countless hours punching a bag, practicing movement, and waiting for her opportunity to be trained. There’s no surprise that boxing is a sport that is as physically debilitating as it is mentally exhausting. That never intimidated her for one second though. After scraping dishes and working as a waitress for almost 20 years and getting no where, boxing was the battle worth fighting because it’s the only thing she felt good doing.

Even though Maggie was fighting for her dream, she wasn’t just fighting for herself. Unfortunately, she never had the support of her family in her corner because they never accepted her as a boxer. She was already enduring the physical battle of boxing, but now she had to fight the mental and emotional battle of living her dream alone as well. You have to wonder where does the strength in her come from when she must face so many battles, and yet have the desire to keep fighting until she has achieved her dream.

A Father’s Love For A Daughter

This movie shows you how influential a father-figure in your life can be. Clint Eastwood received two Academy Award nominations for this film: Best Actor and Best Director. He is synonymous with greatness in the film industry, and I must say that this work of his is my favorite. I’m always impressed by actors who push the boundaries of their range in a performance. Their ability to do the unexpected will always steal the show, and Eastwood shows that here. Most people probably associate him with westerns and playing the role of Dirty Harry. Prepare to be taken by surprise by his role as a caring trainer and father-figure.

Frankie is a deep character to perform, as he is influenced by three things in his life: his past, his relationship with Eddie, and with Maggie. Of all those things, it is his past that torments him, and affects everything he does. He may not say it, but he is heartbroken, and he fears suffering that pain again. His acceptance of training Maggie is symbolic of his opportunity to be a father-figure again. So, from an acting perspective, you have the pleasure of watching Eastwood perform as a character that is emotional, sensitive, and caring. To be a father-figure again is something that he desires, and it’s a person Maggie hasn’t had in her life. As she continues to improve from match to match, he gives her a nickname. A nickname that’s fitting for the relationship they have developed: Mo Chuisle, which in Irish Gaeilge means “my darling”, “my blood”.

Keep in mind that, initially, Warner Bros. was not interested in making this film. So from a directing perspective, this was Eastwood‘s vision for the movie (as he stated in an interview with CBS News): “It’s a love story. It’s a father-daughter love story. And it’s about hopes and dreams. And it’s about the fragility of life.” Warner Bros. may have seen it as another boxing movie, but thanks to the Oscar-nominated adapted screenplay by Paul Haggis and Eastwood‘s direction, it turned out to be much more than that. You can even make the argument that he made two movies into one. As an audience, you have to sit back and enjoy that because you don’t know what to expect. Like many times before, as an actor and director, Eastwood manages to engage your interest here from start to finish.

A Unique Champion

Allow me to add another piece of the puzzle of this film’s quality. I mentioned before that Eddie is the heart of the gym and its caretaker. He is also the film’s narrator. Who better than Morgan Freeman to do that? As you watch this movie from his perspective, you will be shocked to find out who he’s been talking to all along. That’s a narrative style that adds so much depth because without it, we would have an entirely different reaction to the film. What’s interesting about his character is that while he may not be Maggie’s trainer, his approach to her is like a father-figure: supporting. As far as his relationship with Frankie, he’s like Frankie’s moral compass. He may not make his decisions for him, but he gives Frankie his perspectives which make his decisions easier to make, and there are many critical decisions that Frankie must make.

Another interesting aspect of this movie is the rule that Frankie lives by. As Maggie begins her training with him, he tells her about a rule that she should follow in the ring: “Always protect yourself.” If you think about that rule more critically, it’s a rule that can be applied to every aspect of our lives. The question is, how far can you go to protect yourself before your actions actually hurt those dearest to you? It’s a delicate situation to be in, and depending on your actions, you can have two different outcomes. For a character in a film to have that responsibility is devastating to watch. You’re left to wonder how things could have been different if another decision had been made.

As they say in boxing, Million Dollar Baby is a knockout. What makes it a masterpiece in my opinion? Lets review. It features career-best performances by Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood, and an inspiring one from Morgan Freeman. This is a film that even if it were released today, it would have the same, if not, a stronger impact because of its messages and what the characters represent. You also have to add the element of surprise thanks to the narrative style that was used. Essentially, you are watching two movies in one heart-pounding story. It’s also directed by Eastwood, who, if you haven’t noticed, has some directing chops. Finally, after you’ve seen it the first time, you think about watching it again. One more thing: According to the IMDB.com’s list of the top 250 films of all-time, it’s ranked number 193.

Now lets hear from you: Where does this movie rank in the boxing genre? What other pairing of a father and daughter in a film did you enjoy watching?

(top image source: Warner Bros.)