
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Clint Eastwood | ... | Frankie Dunn | |
Hilary Swank | ... | Maggie Fitzgerald | |
Morgan Freeman | ... | Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris | |
Jay Baruchel | ... | Danger Barch | |
Mike Colter | ... | Big Willie Little | |
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Lucia Rijker | ... | Billie 'The Blue Bear' |
Brían F. O'Byrne | ... | Father Horvak (as Brían O'Byrne) | |
Anthony Mackie | ... | Shawrelle Berry | |
Margo Martindale | ... | Earline Fitzgerald | |
Riki Lindhome | ... | Mardell Fitzgerald | |
Michael Peña | ... | Omar | |
Benito Martinez | ... | Billie's Manager | |
Bruce MacVittie | ... | Mickey Mack | |
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David Powledge | ... | Counterman at Diner |
Joe D'Angerio | ... | Cut Man (as Joe d'Angerio) |
Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald wants Frankie Dunn to train her. At the outset he flatly refuses saying he has no interest in training a girl. Frankie leads a lonely existence, alienated from his only daughter and having few friends. Maggie's rough around the edges but shows a lot of grit in the ring and he eventually relents. Maggie not only proves to be the boxer he always dreamed of having under his wing but a friend who fills the great void he's had in his life. Maggie's career skyrockets but an accident in the ring leads her to ask Frankie for one last favor. Written by garykmcd
Saw this last night in LA without much knowing what to expect. Hadn't read many reviews...only knew I liked the work of the three main stars. Swank carries the film and is at her absolute best. The last 45 minutes are some of the most powerful film-making I can remember. Eastwood is also in top form but allows Swank's performance to trump his own. Freeman is outstanding and might have done enough to earn a Best Supporting Actor nomination. This is so much more than a boxing movie, but it's right there with "Raging Bull" and "Rocky". I saw "The Aviator" two days ago and enjoyed "MDB" more.
However, the film is not without fault...Eastwood has a tendency to allow scenes to go on too long and to fill them with too much dead air. The dialogue at times appears a little too ad-libbed. There are some minor logical inconsistencies. But the positives far outweigh the negatives.