MILLION DOLLAR BABY (DVD/WS 2.40/2 DISC/ENG-FR-SP SUB) DVD

Million Dollar Baby
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it; his daughter never answers his letters, and a fighter he's groomed into contender status has paid him back by signing with another manager, leaving Frankie high and dry. His best friend and faithful employee Eddie Dupris is a former fighter who Frankie trained. In his last fight, Eddie suffered a severe injury, a fact that brings Frankie great guilt. One day, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) enters Frankie's life, as well as his gym, and announces she needs a trainer. Frankie regards her as a dubious prospect, and isn't afraid to tell her why: he doesn't think much of women boxing, she's too old at 31, she lacks experience, and has no technique. However, Maggie sees boxing as the one part of her life that gives her meaning and won't give up easily. Finally won over by her determination, Frankie takes on Maggie, and as she slowly grows into a viable fighter, an emotional bond develops between them. When a tragedy befalls one of the three characters, each comes to a decision that shows how the relationships in the film have changed them. Adapted from a short story by F.X. Toole, a former corner man with years of experience in the fight game, Million Dollar Baby also stars Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie, and Mike Colter. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Clint Eastwood as Frankie Dunn Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald Morgan Freeman as Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris Anthony Mackie as Shawrelle Berry Jay Baruchel as Danger Barch Mike Colter as Big Willie Little Lucia Rijker as Billie "The Blue Bear" Brian F. O'Byrne as Father Horvak Margo Martindale as Earline Fitzgerald Riki Lindhome as Mardell Fitzgerald

Crew Jack G. Taylor Jr. - Art Director Phyllis Huffman - Casting Bobby Moresco - Co-producer Deborah Hopper - Costume Designer Robert Lorenz - First Assistant Director Clint Eastwood - Director Joel Cox - Editor Robert Lorenz - Executive Producer Gary Lucchesi - Executive Producer Clint Eastwood - Composer (Music Score) Henry Bumstead - Production Designer Tom Stern - Cinematographer Albert S. Ruddy - Producer Tom Rosenberg - Producer Paul Haggis - Producer Clint Eastwood - Producer Gary A. Lee - Set Designer Joseph G. Pacelli Jr. - Set Designer Walt Martin - Sound/Sound Designer Paul Haggis - Screenwriter Alan Robert Murray - Supervising Sound Editor Richard C. Goddard - Set Decorator F.X. Toole - Short Story Author

Million Dollar Baby
The best decision made by director Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby is to allow Clint Eastwood the performer to drop his screen persona and actually act. As the weathered boxing trainer Frankie Dunn, Eastwood does not seem larger than life, he seems beaten down by it. His banter with Morgan Freeman, as a boxer he used to train, occasionally plays like a brilliantly written Seinfeld episode featuring senior citizens. But often those conversations suddenly hint at great pain and regret, adding an unexpected gravity. Hilary Swank provides the necessary drive and spunk to make the audience believe she would eventually win the emotionally closed-off Frankie over. The first half of the film, an excellently observed boxing drama, allows the audiences to meet the characters and understand where they are in their lives. However, a big event happens (one that would be inappropriate to reveal in this review) and the second half of the film becomes an old-fashioned melodrama. Eastwood's directorial style can be described as low-key, even when the emotions in the film are practically operatic. This decision will either draw audiences into the characters' struggles, or it will distance viewers who feel the film is not allowing them to feel the emotions as fully as possible. At worst, people will be interested in rather than involved with the characters, but those who respond to Eastwood's style will probably be emotionally devastated. What one is left with is a memory of Eastwood's face, that leathery mask of taciturn male pride, cracking with the recognition of where his own life choices have left him. He has directed better films, but he has never given a better performance. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
 

Clint Eastwood: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (nominated) Clint Eastwood: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Director (winner) Clint Eastwood: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Director (nominated) Clint Eastwood: Chicago Film Critics Association, Best Director (winner) Clint Eastwood: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (winner) Clint Eastwood: Golden Globe, Best Director (winner) Clint Eastwood: Golden Globe, Best Score (nominated) Clint Eastwood: National Board of Review, Special Filmmaking Achievement (nominated) Clint Eastwood: National Society of Film Critics, Best Actor - Runner-up (winner) Clint Eastwood: National Society of Film Critics, Best Director (Runner-up) (winner) Clint Eastwood: New York Film Critics Circle, Best Director (winner) Hilary Swank: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actress (winner) Hilary Swank: Boston Society of Film Critics, Best Actress (winner) Hilary Swank: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Actress (winner) Hilary Swank: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (winner) Hilary Swank: National Society of Film Critics, Best Actress (winner) Hilary Swank: Screen Actors Guild, Best Actress (winner) Joel Cox: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (nominated) Morgan Freeman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner) Morgan Freeman: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Morgan Freeman: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Morgan Freeman: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actor [Runner-up] (winner) Morgan Freeman: National Society of Film Critics, Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up) (winner) Morgan Freeman: Screen Actors Guild, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner) Paul Haggis: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Paul Haggis: Writers Guild of America, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (winner) American Film Institute, Best Picture (winner) Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Picture (nominated) Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (nominated) Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Picture [Runner-up] (winner) National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated) National Society of Film Critics, Best Picture (Runner-up) (winner) National Society of Film Critics, Best Picture (winner) Producers Guild of America, Best Picture (nominated) Screen Actors Guild, Best Ensemble Acting (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc Disc 1: Movie Theatrical trailer Languages: English & Français (Dubbed in Quebec) subtitles: English, Français & Español (Feature film only) Disc 2: Special features James Lipton Takes on Three: Roundtable with Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Moderator James Lipton Born to Fight: Examines the parallels of the movie to real-life boxer Lucia Rijker Producers Round 15: behind the scenes DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1: 2.40:1 MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 132 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Million Dollar Baby, Disc 1 1. The Best Cut Man [2:57] 2. God Dialogues [3:41] 3. Hit Pit Gym [3:45] 4. Who's Your New Girl? [3:47] 5. After-Hours Advice [3:27] 6. Keep the Bag [5:23] 7. Gotta Leave You [2:13] 8. Say That in Gaelic [3:46] 9. Backwards [2:47] 10. Frankie's Terms [5:17] 11. To Make a Fighter [5:08] 12. My Fighter [3:33] 13. Too Many Holes [2:49] 14. Who's Boss [2:56] 15. Wounds [4:18] 16. Good Offers [3:18] 17. Scrap's 109th Fight [3:29] 18. Return to Sender [3:34] 19. Mo Cuishle Triumphant [3:42] 20. Fight Talk [2:35] 21. Visiting the Family [4:04] 22. The Best Lemon Pie [2:20] 23. Decisions [2:24] 24. Scrap in the Ring [3:23] 25. Round One [3:43] 26. Round Two [2:34] 27. The Accident [2:26] 28. Her Fault, His Fault [3:53] 29. Caregivers [3:25] 30. A Cabin in Innisfree [2:27] 31. Family Business [4:49] 32. Asking a Favor [6:39] 33. You'll Be Lost [3:42] 34. She Got Her Shot [3:09] 35. What Mo Cuishle Means [4:02] 36. Wishful Thinking [2:19] 37. End Credits [4:22]