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Million Dollar Baby This article is about the 2004 film. There are two other films with the same name: Million Dollar Baby (1941 film) and Million Dollar Baby (1934 film) is an Academy Award winning 2004 dramatic film directed by Clint Eastwood. The screenplay was written by Paul Haggis based on short stories by F.X. Toole, the pen name for fight manager and "cut man" Jerry Boyd, originally published under the title , which have since been republished under the movie's title. It stars Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. It is the story of an under-appreciated boxing trainer, his elusive past, and his quest for atonement in helping an underdog amateur female boxer (the film's title character) achieve her fragile dream of becoming a professional. The film would win many Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

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Maggie (Hilary Swank), a young female amateur who aspires to prove her worth by becoming a successful boxer, is taken in by Frank Dunn (Clint Eastwood), who aids her in realizing her goal while developing a stronger-than-blood bond. Initially, Dunn is dispassionate toward Maggie because she is a 32-year-old female. Maggie, however, perseveres in her attempts to gain Dunn's favor by training each day in his gym, even when others are discouraging. Frank's friend and employee, ex-boxer Eddie Dupris (Morgan Freeman), sympathizes with Maggie's efforts and convinces Dunn to coach her short-term. (Dupris is also the narrator of the film, who reveals the extent to which Maggie and Dunn's relationship transforms both their lives.)

Having experienced no intimate relationship with his own daughter, Dunn forms a stronger bond with Maggie, whose family does not care for her well-being, and decidingly coaches and manages her professional career. With his expertise, Maggie fights her way up to the women's welterweight boxing division, eventually placing a match in Las Vegas against the WBA women's welterweight champion who is known for her foul play. Maggie is severely paralyzed by a treacherous act of her dirty opponent, and Dunn consequently blames himself for her downfall having trained her against his better judgment. In the medical rehabilitation facility, Maggie confides to Dunn that she has "seen it all" and asks to be relieved of suffering. She attempts suicide by biting her tongue multiple times in an attempt to bleed to death. Her attempt fails since her efforts are subdued, but Dunn ultimately commits euthanasia. As narrator, Dupris states that Dunn then disappears. The film's narration by Dupris is revealed to be a letter to Dunn's daughter, who has forsaken him all the while, to inform her of her father's true character.

received the title of the Best Picture of 2004 at the 77th Academy Awards. Eastwood was awarded his second Directing Oscar for the film and also received a Best Actor nomination. Swank and Freeman received Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor Oscars. The film was also nominated for the Film Editing and Writing Adapted Screenplay awards.

The film was also nominated for and won a number of Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Directors's Guild Awards.

Won - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures — Clint Eastwood, Tim Moore, Robert Lorenz, Donald Murphy, Katie Carroll, Ryan CraigNominated - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media — Clint EastwoodNominated - Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award — Clint Eastwood, Albert S. Ruddy, Tom Rosenberg

The film implies that the incapacitated Maggie cannot end her life without Frank's help. Many have claimed that, in fact, a patient is legally entitled to refuse treatment in all fifty states. However those arguing this are referring to a Do Not Resuscitate order (or DNR). This is a legal document that orders doctors not to perform any heroic measures to save a patient that suffers a cardiac or respiratory arrest. If Maggie did not have a DNR before she was paralyzed, she more than likely could not have requested one after the fact as she was probably would have been on pain medications with depressive side effects, and legally could not be granted one in that state of mind.

In any case, the movie deals with the issue of Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, which is illegal in every state of the US except Oregon. Even then you must be a resident of Oregon and be diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months for it to be allowed. There is also the Texas Futile Care Law which allows physicians to withdraw life support on patient who is terminally ill and cannot afford to pay for life support.

In January and February 2005, the film became controversial when some disability rights activists protested the ending of the film, in which Frank carries out Maggie's wish to die after she becomes quadriplegic as a result of a spinal cord injury suffered during her last fight. Prominent among these critics was John Hockenberry, long-time NPR and NBC correspondent and paraplegic.[1] [2] [3]

Around the same time, it was criticized by activists from the Christian Right and social conservatives, including Rush Limbaugh and Michael Medved, on the same issue. Medved stated that: "My main objection to always centered on its misleading marketing, and effort by Warner Brothers to sell it as a movie about a female Rocky, with barely a hint of the pitch-dark substance that led Andrew Sarris of the New York Observer to declare that 'no movie in my memory has depressed me more than has been criticized by some sportswriters as being greatly inaccurate and confusing from a boxing perspective. [6] Some Irish speakers have also criticized the fact that the phrase . The phrase was also mistranslated in the movie; nevertheless it was cited as one of most influential phrases from a Hollywood film that year. [7] The movie has also been praised for awakening interest in the Irish language. [8]

Eastwood responded to the criticism by pointing out the movie was about the American dream. [9] In an interview with the , Eastwood distanced himself from the actions of characters in his films, noting, "I've gone around in movies blowing people away with a .44 magnum. But that doesn't mean I think that's a proper thing to do" [10]. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times, who named the film his favorite of 2004, believes "a movie is not good or bad because of its content, but because of how it handles its content. is classical in the clean, clear, strong lines of its story and characters, and had an enormous emotional impact." [11]

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The Gaelic phrase "Mo cuishle" appearing on the back of Maggie's warmup robe is a mispelled form of the phrase "Mo chuisle", a shortened term of endearment meaning "My pulse". [12]

Suite101.com: Writers of Million Dollar Baby honored at 17th Annual USC Scripter Award Ceremony, February 21, 2005