SPOILER ALERT — I have wanted to talk about this movie for a while now but haven’t gotten around to it for one reason or another. Maybe it is because this film depressed me to no end, such that I found myself unable to jot down a simple word or two about it. Now that some time has passed, I feel compelled to talk about the effect that this production had upon me. From its title, Million Dollar Baby, I mistakenly thought the movie would be an upbeat beat success story about how the individual can conquer all and eventually win a million dollars. Boy, was I wrong. The movie ended on such a very depressing note. It was not at all what I expected from a movie that went home with this year’s best motion picture Oscar.
For some reason, I wanted the movie to inspire me, perk me up or even give me a new thought or two to contemplate. I don’t remember being as depressed after watching a film since seeing the House of Sand and Fog. I do have to admit that technically this movie was well made, however. Hillary Swank did a brilliant job that certainly merited her Oscar win. One sentence that stuck with me throughout the picture was: "She grew up knowing one thing, that she was trash." God, how depressing is that.
But as I’ve searched to find a bright side to this film, I only had to look as far as its star, Hillary Swank, who’s inspiring story mirrors that told in the film in some ways. As a girl who herself grew up in a trailer, Swank had nothing but a dream, a dream that has thus far secured her two Oscars. Now that is what I call the realization of the American dream.
So if you were to ask me if the film deserves a "Best Motion Picture" Oscar I would say yes and no. Yes, because it was very well made (edited and directed) and the acting was superb. And no, because I thought the Aviator was better on a number of other levels that made it more deserving of this title. Here is my review of that film.
NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE SHOULD HAVE ONE THE OSCAR!
You know what’s funny? Eventough I’ve seen this movie, upon seeing that SPOILER ALERT I skipped this post when I first opened the site. It only hit me after a few seconds!
Nas, we agree on this one! I spent the last week watching the extended version of the trilogy and I’m even ready for Silmarillion.
Metal, so where do you think the new SW will play? Who’s in the right line? Oh, whoops, you may even BE there!
I do agree that this movie was not quite what I had expected!! It’s a very good movie but as I had commented on Subzero Blue’s blog, I wasn’t really enthusiastic when asked about it… Hilary Swank sure deserved her Oscar but I don’t feel the movie did… not because it was depressing, but because it was a typical Euthanasia story!! I strongly feel that “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind” should’ve been nominated and would’ve deserved an Oscar… Not only is it more original, but also very intelligent, and with superb performances from Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet!
Thanks for the heads up of it being even MORE depressing than the House of Sand and Fog. I won’t watch it unless I’m in Beirut and happy 🙂
Another note: A recent report indicated a woman was killed in the boxing ring for the first time ever in professional women’s boxing. This was just in the last few weeks or so. That report also included a story about a woman that got hit so hard she lost her ability to speak and walk, taking two years to recover. Yes, she actually did recover. But she said watching the movie hit so close to home it was scary. The film was fiction.
As to the comparison let me just say a few things. First off, the academy: The academy is not left-wingers by any means. They are perhaps a bit left of center. The academy is not who you think it is. Sure it’s actors like Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts. But it’s also this 75-year-old guy who did the foley sound for a picture in 1955 and got put into the academy.
The Academy is filled with old Hollywood talent that are often out of touch with the rest of the US/world. This group of folks actually comprises over 50% of the voting members. The big names are only a bit over a quarter (some estimates say less). The controlling percentage group is also the one most likely responsible for leaking screeners that make their way to the net.
These folks often had a moment or two in Hollywood and so remain a member of the academy until they die. They are many times more regular folk than you’d imagine and often they are older; academy membership rules are a bit different now than in decades past so this trend is less likely to continue. IMHO the older generations also tend to be a bit more conservative, the world over. The academy is no different. They rarely make bold choices.
For that see the Hollywood Foreign Press — The Golden Globe folks. They are younger and definitely more liberal and hey, they’re European (mostly).
Both films in question are top drawer and both sad, one obviously more so. But truth be told Clint got his Oscar (Unforgiven), Martin never did and he so deserves one. Here’s where the politics play. Clint has been around forever. Many Academy members are his peers. Heck, they’re Freeman’s as well. These guys played well with the Hollywood system and nearly always have. Clint broke out early with Play Misty for Me but he’s stayed within the confines of the system to a large extent.
Marty is a maverick. He always has been. He’s part of a pack of brilliant filmmakers that broke out in the 70’s and made their own path. Some were embraced — see Spielberg — and others created their own world — see Lucas. Marty did his own thing and has never been liked or really accepted by the Hollywood old school. That said Francis Ford Coppola hasn’t either. And the two of them are some of the finest filmmakers alive.
Marty deserved this Oscar, Clint did not. Baby was a quiet little film, meant to elicit emotion and thought much like Bridges of Madison County. It was only big by virtue of who made it. That said, it’s still an excellent film.
Aviator was the first time Marty made a film that was “Hollywood” in much of its structure, less challenging than his usual. But that said, it does have a grander quality, a more potent and important storyline (that’s really quite amazing). It should have merited him an award, at the very least at the director level. How many films have you seen where everyone that walked away from the stage with an award for a film (and Aviator got a few) said, “I couldn’t have done it without you [Marty]” and yet the guy gets nothing?
Well Isam, as I said in my post, I thought the movie was very well-made and Hillary’s acting was superb. The depressing side of it just killed me;-)
come on Nat ! You are not fair about the movie ! just because you returned depressed home you dislike it.. I think it was a great movie, not having a happy ending is part of life, which movies tries to capture.
Also, perhaps you’ll like this Daily Show bit on million dollar crybabies
alot of “politics” goes into the oscars, the members of academy are very liberal left wingers and this movie struck some chords in that department of euthanasia; on a social level we saw that several weeks later with terry shiavo. Plus, eastwood and freeman have alot of weight as veterns of the academy and both of them together on screen in an Eastwood film must’ve brought back memories of Unforgiven. The aviator had only scorcse to carry it really.
as a film however it was very hard to pick a real winner between aviator and million dollar. photo finish.
my suggestion? make another lord of the rings movie! the hobbit is comming, the hobbit is coming.