Million Dollar Baby is an exceptional piece of movie making from the veteran Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood. I wasn't sure what to expect from it, as the picture sort of came out of nowhere, generating huge buzz wherever it played. I feared that perhaps the movie wouldn't live up to the hype, but I was quite wrong. And in fact, the numerous Oscar nominations Million Dollar Baby has earned are more than justified, and in many ways, it's even more powerful than last year's Oscar nominated Mystic River.

In Million Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood plays loner boxing trainer Frankie Dunn, an aging ringmaster with a knack for passing along fighting expertise. When his latest protégé parts ways so that he might have a shot at the title with another management team, Frankie struggles with the loss. That is until his services are aggressively sought by young boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, a woman with enough fiery spirit and tenacity to compromise one of Frankie's most iron-clad rules of the ring - no training girls. Before long, a powerful bond develops between Frankie and Maggie, and, along with the help of Frankie's long time assistant and one time boxer Eddie Scrap (Morgan Freeman), things begin to click and Maggie is on a roll.

Clint Eastwood is very simplistic with his approach here. On the surface, Million Dollar Baby is the quintessential sports underdog movie. As familiar as the proceedings are, the film is always incredibly rousing, even when you may think you know exactly where it's heading. What sets this picture apart from the likes of Rocky and Hoosiers though, is the direction it takes. Many critics have revealed the unexpected detour that Million Dollar Baby takes in it's final act. Some (mostly with their own political agendas) have even gone so far as to ruin the end of the movie because they disapprove. I'm not about to spoil anything in this review. I will say, that at it's heart, Million Dollar Baby is more about relationships than boxing. And while simplistic, there is a fundamental complexity to it that ultimately makes this movie soar.

Eastwood's direction is impeccable. Even though cinema has seen it's fair share of rousing boxing pictures before, Million Dollar Baby is so well crafted that it works with the best of them. As expected, the man with no name gives us three dimensional characters. These are real people with real problems and this makes the incredibly dynamic boxing elements of the picture seem more relevant. Frankie and Maggie have both had tough trials in there own lives - trials that bring them closer together. And where Eastwood ultimately takes the film (based on a series of stories by F.X. Toole) will most certainly have people talking.

Eastwood the actor is even more impressive than Eastwood the director. Yes, we've seen him play the sort of quiet loner before, but not like this. There's a richness and depth to his Frankie that isn't really completely revealed until the end of the picture. Emotionally, Eastwood delivers in a way we haven't seen before. He is a tremendous presence in every conceivable way, and I feel completely safe in proclaiming this the strongest performance of the superstar's career.

Hilary Swank is sensational as the determined Maggie. This is a physically demanding role, but it's also an emotionally charged one, and Swank succeeds with flying colors in what is easily her best work since Boys Don't Cry. And what really takes the movie to the highest possible level, is the rapport that builds between Eastwood and Swank. It's a beautiful thing to behold. They become the strongest of friends, and by the end of the movie, they develop what could be best described as a father/daughter relationship.

Oh-did I mention that Morgan Freeman is in this picture as well? He is, and as usual, he's completely solid. Yes, we've seen him play similar such roles in movies like Shawshank Redemption, but who cares - he's an absolute natural. A true pro.

There were elements of Million Dollar Baby that I had a hard time buying into. There's a subplot involving a mentally challenged boxer who trains at Frankie's gym. The fate that awaits him is a little harsh, but I suppose his exchange with Eddie shortly thereafter is the real reason for the scene's inclusion. As I watched this picture, I did have certain reservations about the film's ending. It's courageous to be sure, but the bold statement Eastwood makes, almost seemed to belong in a different movie. Upon reflection, however, it is clear that a tough decision made during the climax of Million Dollar Baby, is a true testament to the kind of man Frankie is. It also makes the bond between he and Maggie feel all the more genuine.

Pound for pound, Million Dollar Baby is an emotional powerhouse. Now in his 70's, Eastwood is really hitting his stride. He just continues to get better as an actor and director. It's clear that he knows how to create the proper environment for his crew to work in. As a result, his latest effort is a million dollar knock out.