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.
Will the real Amin Matalqa please stand up:)
Actually, I kind of liked it. I’m not sure why everyone is attacking this simple multi love story. Relax people. It’s just a light comedy. Jeez!
lol 🙂
Listen Amin, this is an open forum so don’t hold back. Tell us how you really feel 😉
Sorry, but that was not a witty comedy, but a bad bad attempt at wit. The concept was nice, but the writing and execution were terrible. You want witty Brittish humor, watch Lawless Heart. An excellent drama with dry witty Brittish humor. I had to turn Love Actually off after a really unconvincing Billy Bob Thornton as US President hits on the maid, then the press conference turns into Hugh Grant’s reprimand of the president in political terms. They tried to play it like it’s subtext, when really, it was just plain stupid. I’m not usually harsh on films, but this one made me vomit…then my dog came over and started eating my vomit off the floor. Then he looked up at the TV and watched a couple of scenes and vomited my vomit. The neighbors came in complaining about the smell of vomit, and when they saw Love Actually playing on the TV, they vomited on my Welcome rug. I had to turn the movie off, lest I turn the whole building into an acid-infested health hazard zone.
Amin,
I think you should give Love Actually a chance. Yes, it is cheesy, but very witty and extremely amusing. I guess this is what defines British comedy. I highly enjoyed watching Love Actually and I’m willing to watch it again.
Here’s the female boxer’s death in the ring story that I mentioned. It’s not really been at issue here but it is a disturbing story that again has resonance in Baby.
Amin, totally hear you about Love Actually. Total waste of time.
I have to say, Million Dollar Baby was one of the most beautiful films made in the last two years. I can totally see this movie failing in the Arabic market because of the reaction that it’s depressing. I don’t think it’s depressing at all. I think it’s about sacrifice and the beauty of this father/ daughter relationship. It’s touching, moving, emotional…but depressing? I’ll tell you what’s depressing…Love Actually. I just popped this movie in and had to stop the player because it was depressingly bad. The writing was depressingly cheesy, the set-ups were stupid…etc.
But Back to Million Dollar Baby. I was very happy that it won the best picture award because while the Aviator was brilliant, it still did not have the emotional impact on me as this film did. Eastwood’s simplicity in telling an emotionally involving story beats all the grand effects and flashy camera-work of the master, Scorcese.
*won