Plot Outline:Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) a veteran boxing trainer runs a dilapidated gym along with friend Scrap (Morgan Freeman), an ex-boxer who lost his eye fighting. Personally Frankie has suffered estrangement from his daughter, and feigns atheism but has been attending mass for the past 23 years.
Then Maggie Fitzgerald (Hillary Swank), a struggler requests Frankie to train her. Tired after years and with innate fear of seeing someone fatally injured, Frankie shrugs off Maggie. He tells her that she's too old and he doesn't train girls. But Maggie’s determination makes Frankie agree, although grudgingly.
In all the pain and gains of boxing, the two come to discover that they share a common spirit that transcends the pain and loss of their family they lost long ago. The story packs two years of their lives into two hours showing the surrogate father-daughter relationship and personal/professional challenges they undergo.
Comment:
The screenplay based upon stories from "Rope Burns" by FX Toole. Direction and Acting are simply amazing (4 Oscars prove it). The characterization, plot and handling of touchy issues like euthanasia are neat.
Rating: 4.5/5 – Highly recommended! [MPAA rating PG-13 for Brutal fight scenes]
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