Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The controversy failed to dent the films popularity. Million Dollar Baby (2004) She spent most of the next 42 years working as a copy editor and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Get familiar with the big names that everyone talked about. It grossed $216,763,646 in theaters; $100,492,203 in the United States, and $116,271,443 in other territories. Morgan Freeman (Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris), Academy Award nominations (* denotes win), https://www.britannica.com/topic/Million-Dollar-Baby, Turner Classic Movies - Million Dollar Baby. The Disability Rights Education Fund released a statement about the film in February 2005 that included the following: "Perhaps the most central stereotype fueling disability prejudice is the mistaken assumption inherent in the message of the movie that the quality of life of individuals with disabilities is unquestionably not worth living. [16][17], Wesley J. Smith in The Weekly Standard also criticized the film for its ending and for missed opportunities; Smith said, "The movie could have ended with Maggie triumphing once again, perhaps having obtained an education and becoming a teacher; or, opening a business managing boxers; or perhaps, receiving a standing ovation as an inspirational speaker. Shes a welterweight boxer. Our society is so enamored with autonomy that we sometimes fail to consider other issues. Jewish law approaches the preservation of life as a moral obligation, but recognizes that there are times, particularly when a patient is terminally ill, when intervention should not be performed. Yet let us consider: If a physically healthy person, with a stable family, wealth, and a successful career, would state that he wants to die, we would naturally find it hard to support such a decision. Please ignore rumors and hoaxes. Maggie wants the legendary trainer Frankie Dunn to teach her how to fight. Boxing movies come with a different set of emotions. Frankie, who studies Gaelic, tells Maggie that he does not know what the phrase means. AskMen, Become a Better Man, Big Shiny Things, Mantics and guyQ are among the federally In the academy award-winning film, the injured boxer begs her coach to kill her because she can't face life as a quadriplegic, and he complies. Maggie Fitzgerald is a hillbilly who is poor, works as a waiter, and steals food to put together some savings (Swank, Eastwood and Freeman, Million Dollar Baby). Interests boxing, her only calling in life. Ziff Davis, LLC BBB Business Review. It is based on a screenplay by Paul Higgins, who adapted it from the collection of short stories, Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner, written by F.X. Information What is the streaming release date of Million Dollar Baby (2004) in Mexico? Frankie Dunn believes her too old to be getting in the line, but her conviction wins him over and they begin a rigorous training. Then tragedy strikes when her opponent a dirty fighter named Billie clocks her upside the chin, breaking her neck and rendering her a quadriplegic. Without hope of recovery, she attempts suicide, before finally persuading Frankie to help her die. [citation needed] The titular phrase 'million dollar baby' was used as an insult during pre-fight publicity by Sonny Liston to Muhammad Ali, the latter of whom was an underdog at the time. Big Willie drops Frankie as his manager and signs with the more aggressive Mickey Mack (Bruce MacVittie). (Note to readers: This story reveals a key plot twist in "Million Dollar Baby.") The film tells us the story of a poor but feisty young woman, Maggie (Hilary Swank), who wants Frankie (Clint . Maggies mother, Earline (Margo Martindale), and sister, Mardell (Riki Lindhome), respond to the gift with disdain, and they tell Maggie that her boxing career has made her a laughingstock. Is Million Dollar Baby based on true events? The most important lesson he teaches his boxers is the one that rules life: above all, always protect yourself. A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay written by Paul Haggis, based on stories from the 2000 collection Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. "[8], Consequently, to prepare for her role, Swank underwent extensive training in the ring and weight room, gaining 19 pounds of muscle, aided by professional trainer Grant L. Roberts. At the outset, he flatly refuses saying he has no interest in training a girl. He didnt get to see the alternate version of his stories and neither did he see the increased popularity of his works, a couple of which were released posthumously. Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie's friend and employeethe film's narratorencourages and helps Maggie. As with Frankie, we're not told much about Maggie or how she came to discover that, at 31, she's destined to become a champion boxer. Despite her age, Maggie proves herself to be worth Frankie's time and . Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is a tough-luck waitress, who persuades a grizzled old trainer named Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to help turn her into a world-class boxer. The highs in Maggies arc are matched by the crushing lows later in the film when Fitzgeralds impressive, undefeated streak is derailed by a freak accident. but a real-life boxer, whose life story likely inspired the film, says the ending is bunk. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Just before administering a fatal injection of adrenaline, he tells Maggie the meaning of "mo chuisle": "my darling, and my blood." Maggies obese, white trash family have rejected her. Our weekly email is chockful of interesting and relevant insights into Jewish history, food, philosophy, current events, holidays and more Dr. Daniel Eisenberg is with the Department of Radiology at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and an Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine. She then asks Frankie to help her die, declaring that she got everything she wanted out of life. What is the streaming release date of Million Dollar Baby (2004) in Mexico? And shes a damn good boxer too, starting off winning small fights and then graduating to the big leagues, often winning by KO thats a boxing acronym for knock out. Frankie sticks with her every step of the way. See production, box office & company info. We, as a society, do not feel they are in a position to make prudent decisions. Hollywood star Hilary Swank rose to fame in the late 90s with one of her most incredible performances her portrayal of Brandon Teena in the biographical movie Boys Don't Cry.In 2004 the actress portrayed aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's sports drama movie Million Dollar Baby.For both of her performances, Hilary won an Academy Award in the category Best Lead Actress. In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, Frankie has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a very long time. Frankie accepts a fight in London for Maggie and gives her a green silk robe with the Gaelic phrase Mo Cuishle on the back. ", Often we fail to recognize that a cry for death is really a cry for help. Is it really possible for a person to want to live following an injury like Maggie's? And she's a damn good boxer too, starting off . Then Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) walks into his gym. Disgusted, she orders them to leave and threatens to report their welfare fraud if they try to contact her again. Much like Mary Kay Ash, Maggie started from nothing, slinging hash at a dive somewhere in the Ozarks when she meets trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood). I still have a passion for all things boxing, as evidenced by the name of my furry red Somali cat, Lennox Lewis. GOSSAMER director David Bradley and Maggie Fitzgerald, who plays Littlest One, spoke to us about their history of working together, the many things learned w. Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) wants Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to train her. She trained for nearly five hours every day, winding up with a potentially life-threatening staphylococcus infection. Maggie, born and raised in Missouri, has always had to fight for herself. Common wisdom declares that the wishes of a patient, whether they be for more treatment, less treatment, or physician-assisted suicide, must be respected and carried out. He has taught a Jewish medical ethics class for the past 15 years. While in the hospital, Maggie looks forward to a visit from her family. "[15] The Chicago Tribune reported that protests against the film by disability activists occurred in Chicago, Berkeley, and other cities, and that Clint Eastwood had previously lobbied for weakening provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Frankie then reluctantly agrees to train Maggie but states that he will not manage her. [20] Roger Ebert stated that "a movie is not good or bad because of its content, but because of how it handles its content. Your email address will not be published. No one would consider it moral to yell "jump" to a person standing on a high ledge. I like to think that there are kick-ass gals out there like Maggie who are willing to go after their dreams, no matter how outr, dangerous or impossible they may seem to the rest of us rather boring folks. Or that shed have given Frankie a glimmer of hope and picked a potato chip from the bowl a la Jill Kinmont* in The Other Side of the Mountain., Maggie fights on in my imagination. This article is about the 2004 film. "She came from southwestern Missouri," Scrap explains, "the hills outside the scratchy-ass Ozark town of Theodosia, set in the cedars and oak trees, somewhere between nowhere and goodbye. The woman of many talents, Crocketts professional boxing career is not the only thing that she has made a name for herself in. Omissions? Shneidman, founder of the American Association of Suicidology, explained: "The paradigm is the man who cuts his throat and cried for help in the same breath.". Dr. Eisenberg writes extensively on topics of Judaism and medicine and lectures internationally on topics in Jewish medical ethics to groups of all backgrounds. Million Dollar Baby was based on stories in Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner (2000), written by veteran boxing trainer and manager Jerry Boyd under the pen name F.X. Shes one helluva fictional character. 10 Video Games That Need a Live Action Adaptation. Frankie is shown experiencing the first three of the five stages of grief: first seeking multiple doctors' opinions in denial, then blaming Scrap in anger and later trying to bargain with God through prayer. The Blue Bear has a reputation for aggressiveness and for fighting dirty. [13] Michael Medved stated: "My main objection to Million Dollar Baby 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 Million Dollar Baby. With such an inspiring and heart-breaking tale at the same time, one is bound to wonder if it is true? In case you havent seen the film, Hilary Swank played Maggie, and she looked majestic in this role: Hilary Swank as Maggie is some kinda BAD ASS. Frankie then reluctantly agrees to train Maggie. But in such a state of presumed depression, is it in her best interest for us to give her decision-making autonomy to end her life? They arrive only after first touring Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Maggie's rough around the edges, but shows a lot of grit in the ring and he eventually relents. But what happened is, she had this great work ethic. It does not matter whether we discuss a despondent disabled, boxer, fully cognizant of her condition such as Maggie; a woman who has remained in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years, such as Terri Schiavo; or an old man lying unconscious on his deathbed, feeling (as far as we know) no pain and having no interaction with his environment. Maggie's career skyrockets, but an accident in the ring leads her to ask Frankie for one last favor. Daddy used to tell me Id fight my way into this world, and Id fight my way out., Living in Los Angeles, where she trains at the Hit Pit, a grimy downtown gym. (I was happy with my amateur hour status, because some of those gal fighters hit hard.) As she puts it, I was born two pounds, one-and-a-half ounces. Ms. Million Dollar. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Let's look at the real-life experience of someone who was at the height of fame and then suffered a devastating injury similar to Maggie's. The fictional Fitzgerald was a Missourian born into trailer-home poverty who in her early thirties sees a chance for independence in the nascent world of women's boxing. Little by little, an unbreakable father/daughter bond develops between them, and for the first time in a long while, both Dunn and Maggie seem to have found purpose in life. Scrap gives Maggie some tips and lets her borrow a speed bag. [22], Million Dollar Baby was listed on many critics' top ten lists for films released in 2004.[23]. No, Million Dollar Baby is not based on a true story. Several studios rejected the project even when Eastwood signed on as actor and director. We are certainly never permitted to shorten the life of someone like Maggie who is in a very compromised state, but not dying. Frankie bestows Maggie a Gaelic nickname, embroidered on her boxing robe, Mo Chuisle (misspelled in the film as "mo cuishle"), but does not tell her its meaning. Boxing movies are about rooting for the underdog and Maggie may the ultimate underdog on this list, delivering a character we root for her the whole way, no matter her fate. registered trademarks of Ziff Davis Canada, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without Even Warner Bros., Eastwood's longtime home base, would not agree to a $30 million budget. In her first scene she begs Clint Eastwoods jaded coach character to train her and simply wont take no for an answer, training at his gym day and all night until she eventually wins him over. "[10] On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on reviews from 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Such was the life of Margaret (Maggie) Fitzgerald, known by her fans as "Mo Chuishle". But it's even more strikingly ironic that Christopher Reeve's most formidable accomplishments, what he will undoubtedly be remembered for above all else, came after he became a quadriplegic. Dunn is a cantankerous Irish-American trainer, revealed to be estranged from his own daughter. After Maggie bites through her tongue in an effort to bleed to death, however, he changes his mind. Personality persistent, tough, and courageous. Maggie Fitzgerald wins a "humble beginnings" contest nine times out of ten. E.S. Maggie is tired of washing dishes and waiting on tables. [2] The term 'Million Dollar Baby' was from the nose art of a World War II Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. Suddenly, an injury renders Maggie permanently paralyzed from the neck down, unable to move, and dependent on a respirator to keep her alive. Gender Maggie is alive and kicking. Then a second passed, her fire extinguished and she fell. He was in his 40s by then, so there was no prospect of him pursuing it as a profession, but he learnt enough to know about the world of boxing and write stories about it. From a purely humanitarian approach, we may still question her autonomous decision. Billie the Blue Bear, dropping Maggie Fitzgerald's head across a stool, paralyzing her, freezing us, and how can anyone ever forgive that? A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. It garnered rapturous reviews and four Academy Awards, including that for best picture. I found you a fighter. For the 1941 film, see. Updates? Maggie soldiers on through it all until she has the chance at a million dollar pot in Vegas. Frankie says that he doesn't usually train girls, until he meets the tenacious Maggie. 'Million Dollar Baby' is amongst his finest films, a superb film, that almost reaches a Landmark level! Toole, the pen name of fight manager and cutman Jerry Boyd. According to CBS, Swank, like Fitzgerald, grew up in a trailer park and was a high. A fulfilling life requires hope for the future -- new vistas to reach, new goals to achieve. Some writers excoriated it as being a politically motivated piece to argue in favour of legalizing euthanasia, while disability-rights activists complained that the movie wrongly gave the impression that people living with a disability would be better off dead, maintaining that a better ending would have shown Maggie overcoming her despair and embracing her new life. Eventually, he relents, and the two form a close bond that will irrevocably change them both. His only friend, Scrap, an ex-boxer who looks after Frankies gym, knows that beneath his gruff exterior is a man who has been seeking, for the past 25 years, the forgiveness that somehow continues to elude him. [6][7], Eastwood had confidence in Swank's acting, but upon seeing Swank's small physique, he had concerns, "I just thought, 'Yeah, this gal would be great. Toole, and was adapted for the screen by Paul Haggis. (See: Should Terri Schiavo Live or Die?) Maggie, a waitress from the Ozarks region of Missouri, starts working out at the gym. However, as sheer determination forces the reluctant mentor to relent, Maggie soon finds herself on the fast track to making her dream come true. ", So we need to ask: Is Maggie's decision to die reasonable? Frankie then reluctantly agrees to train Maggie but states that he will not manage her. Maggie becomes an extraordinarily successful fighter, always knocking out her opponent in the first round. 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