We take for granted a world where patient autonomy is the overriding ethical principle to which all other considerations must bend. (Spoiler Alert: If you don't want to know the film's plot twist, stop reading now.). The website's critical consensus reads, "Clint Eastwood's assured directioncombined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freemanhelp Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichs, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving. Maggies obese, white trash family have rejected her. The Academy Award-winning movie, Million Dollar Baby, strikes deep at the issues of self-worth and the value of life. Then, "What's your plan for tomorrow?" Corrections? [8], Million Dollar Baby initially had a limited release, opening in eight theaters in December 2004. Human It was because of you that she was fighting the championship of the world. Then a second passed, her fire extinguished and she fell. She was like a fire cracker. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. A study was done of those who survived attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. More details are available in the progress report. What is the streaming release date of Million Dollar Baby (2004) in Mexico? Personality persistent, tough, and courageous. Frankie bestows Maggie a Gaelic nickname, embroidered on her boxing robe, Mo Chuisle (misspelled in the film as "mo cuishle"), but does not tell her its meaning. Yet after a short period of despair, he chose to make life matter and become an advocate for the disabled. After Maggie bites through her tongue in an effort to bleed to death, however, he changes his mind. [12], Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film four stars and stated that "Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece, pure and simple," listing it as the best film of 2004. Despite a seemingly repetitive loop that the genre is caught up in, these movies mostly succeed in getting people passionate about their stories and characters. The bystander on the street would presume that the potential jumper is distraught and needs emotional support and help. "My 'Million Dollar' Answer," OpinionJournal/Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (17 February 2005). The last few minutes of Million Dollar Baby are a sobfest of epic proportions, and not in that cheesy Hallmark way, either. Maggie, a waitress from the Ozarks region of Missouri, starts working out at the gym. Million Dollar Baby, American dramatic film, released in 2004, that was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Eastwood and Hilary Swank. Yet let us consider: If a physically healthy person, with a stable family, wealth, and a successful career, would state that he wants to die, we would naturally find it hard to support such a decision. Join Facebook to connect with Maggie Fitzgerald and others you may know. This is our collection of the most informative and complete biographies. registered trademarks of Ziff Davis Canada, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without Get entertainment recommendations for your unique personality and find out which of 5,500+ In her first scene she begs Clint Eastwoods jaded coach character to train her and simply wont take no for an answer, training at his gym day and all night until she eventually wins him over. If Im too old for this, then I got nothing.. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. On the strength of believing in herself, Maggie reaches the pinnacle of success and is about to become world champion. She went to school in Bellingham, where she lived with her family, until she was 16. Ms. Million Dollar. Maggie becomes a popular fighter in Europe, where people cheer for her as Mo Cuishle. When Maggie and Frankie return to the United States, Maggie takes Frankie to meet her mother, for whom Maggie has bought a house. From a purely humanitarian approach, we may still question her autonomous decision. E.S. Jewish law would assert that all of the lives in question have intrinsic value. He is portrayed by Hilary Swank . Kevin Can F**k Himself Shows a Whole New Side of Sitcom Marriages What Can Guys Learn From It? It received critical acclaim and grossed $216.8 million worldwide. Profession rising star in the female boxing world. Scrap's narration is revealed to be a letter to Frankie's daughter, informing her of her father's true character. Much like Mary Kay Ash, Maggie started from nothing, slinging hash at a dive somewhere in the Ozarks when she meets trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood). I never got my shot. Clint Eastwood was awarded his second Best Director Oscar for the film, and also received a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination. Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) wants Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to train her. Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) wants Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to train her. According to CBS, Swank, like Fitzgerald, grew up in a trailer park and was a high. Let's look at the real-life experience of someone who was at the height of fame and then suffered a devastating injury similar to Maggie's. For instance, we limit the decision-making autonomy of children and of those who are mentally impaired. It is further contradicted by plenty of hard data. The back of Maggie's robe has the phrase "Mo Cuishle". With such an inspiring and heart-breaking tale at the same time, one is bound to wonder if it is true? A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. This stereotype is contradicted by the personal experience of many thousands of people with significant disabilities in this country and around the world who view our own lives as ordinary and normal. He secures Maggie a $1 million match in Las Vegas against the WBA women's welterweight champion, Billie "The Blue Bear" Osterman, a German ex-prostitute who has a reputation as a dirty fighter. [6][7], Eastwood had confidence in Swank's acting, but upon seeing Swank's small physique, he had concerns, "I just thought, 'Yeah, this gal would be great. Million Dollar Baby was theatrically released on December 15, 2004, by Warner Bros. Pictures. She is equally dominant at this level, and she begins to attract high-profile opportunities, but Frankie turns down such offers. Problem is, this is the only thing I ever felt good doing. They often feature the story of an underdog, as they find their way to the top, or least, to someplace where they have a fighting chance. Maggie Fitzgerald March 29, 2022 5-year and 30-year Treasury yields invert for the first time since 2006, fueling recession fears S&P 500 rises on Monday to extend two-week comeback, Nasdaq adds 1 . Maggie lands hard on her corner stool, breaking her neck and leaving her a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. Frankie is also reluctant to let Big Willie fight in a title match. No, Million Dollar Baby is not based on a true story. Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman received Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscars, respectively. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Hillary Swank in the lead role, the Academy Award winning film follows the story of a waitress named Maggie Fitzgerald who decides to pursue a career in boxing. Owing to his intense training, Huntley got Boyd a job as a cutman, through which he got to meet Juli Crockett, whom he called the inspiration for the character of Maggie Fitzgerald. It was after 'Million Dollar Baby' was released that her boxing career came to the limelight. After losing a leg to gangrene, Maggie asks Frankie to kill her, as living in this condition is intolerable to her, but he will not. A heartbroken Frankie seeks other opinions to no avail and then has her transferred to a rehabilitation clinic in Los Angeles. A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. If the person doesn't have a plan "Well, let's make one. Maggie Fitzgerald Remembered She was like a fire cracker. "I had it all," Maggie tells Frankie, "so don't take it away from me.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, Frankie has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a very long time. Frankie, who studies Gaelic, tells Maggie that he does not know what the phrase means. Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay written by Paul Haggis, based on stories from the 2000 collection Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. She then asks Frankie to help her die, declaring that she got everything she wanted out of life. The film played in theaters for six and a half months. 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. But what happened is, she had this great work ethic. Maggie Fitzgerald is a hillbilly who is poor, works as a waiter, and steals food to put together some savings (Swank, Eastwood and Freeman, Million Dollar Baby). Why isn't Maggie offered any psychiatric treatment for her depression? Scrap gives Maggie some tips and lets her borrow a speed bag. Frankie is initially reluctant to train a woman, but Maggie persists and soon wins him over. Then a second passed, her fire extinguished and she fell. Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) wants Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to train her. After months of training, Maggie is given a manager, but during her first fight, Frankie decides to take over as her manager, and she then knocks out her opponent. People cheered her name and watched her in awe- she was wondrous and captivating. Clint Eastwood is a legendary film personality. like the boxer in million dollar baby, katie dallam was a missouri girl who grew up in poverty. "[10] On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on reviews from 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Maggie, it seems, has just as much talent as she has pure drive. Gal. She ignited, flared, and became the brightest flame that lit up the night sky. [16][17], Wesley J. Smith in The Weekly Standard also criticized the film for its ending and for missed opportunities; Smith said, "The movie could have ended with Maggie triumphing once again, perhaps having obtained an education and becoming a teacher; or, opening a business managing boxers; or perhaps, receiving a standing ovation as an inspirational speaker. If you have any unfortunate news that this page should be update with, please let us know using this form. Down she went, no longer burning and sizzling, to the earth. Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, a waitress from a Missouri town in the Ozarks, shows up in the Hit Pit, a run-down Los Angeles gym owned and operated by Frankie Dunn, an old, cantankerous boxing trainer. Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods and What the Vietnam War Did to My Father, Best Sex Positions to Improve Your Sex Life. Million Dollar Baby (2004) Or that shed have given Frankie a glimmer of hope and picked a potato chip from the bowl a la Jill Kinmont* in The Other Side of the Mountain., Maggie fights on in my imagination. But it does not require an edict from the Code of Jewish Law to recognize that Maggie is making the wrong choice. Shes one helluva fictional character. We can all identify with Maggie's suffering: the glory that could have been and the horrible turn of events that has left her helpless. [4][5] The film was stuck in development hell for years before it was shot. Million Dollar Baby is classical in the clean, clear, strong lines of its story and characters, and had an enormous emotional impact". Obtain more information on scheduling a lecture or learning more about Jewish medical ethics by visiting Dr. Eisenberg at www.daneisenberg.com, When Leonard Cohen Sang for Israeli Soldiers During the Yom Kippur War, How to Prevent Civil War: Arguing for the Sake of Peace, Top Six Rules Every Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Should Follow. Both Katie Dallam and Maggie Fitzgerald were born into poverty in Missouri and began boxing in their 30's. Both ended up in the ring against a much younger, stronger opponent. Hilary Swank as Maggie is some kinda BAD ASS. Maggie's rough around the edges, but shows a lot of grit in the ring and he eventually relents. In the end, the real tragedy of Million Dollar Baby is not the heart-wrenching decision that Frankie has to make. Grew Up in utter poverty. She spent most of the next 42 years working as a copy editor and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She suffers a catastrophic spinal cord injury that leaves her quadriplegic. She eventually finds a. As a society we would rather take a person's cry for help as a cry for death, rather than adequately fund the social services necessary to help people choose not to die. A determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. [21], The Gaelic nickname for Swank's character comes from the original phrase a chuisle mo chro, meaning "O pulse of my heart"; one critic noted that the use of Gaelic in the film led to some interest in the language and the phrase. We need not look to the world of fiction for an answer. Is 'Million Dollar Baby' based on a book? . Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) is a tough-luck waitress, who persuades a grizzled old trainer named Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to help turn her into a world-class boxer. [27] The Blu-ray Disc version was released on November 14, 2006. Its time to give recognition to the man who runs the show behind the scenes. At the outset, he flatly refuses saying he has no interest in training a girl. As a tribute to her, I bestowed my hero, Gage, in Someone Like You with a very special surname: Fitzgerald.. Judaism recognizes that a person has the autonomy to make healthcare decisions, but insists that they must do so in a prudent manner (see "Doctor Knows Best?"). Jewish law approaches the preservation of life as a moral obligation, but recognizes that there are times, particularly when a patient is terminally ill, when intervention should not be performed. Flip. Please select which sections you would like to print: Pat Bauer graduated from Ripon College in 1977 with a double major in Spanish and Theatre. '"[citation needed][14], In early 2005, the film sparked controversy when some disability rights activists protested the ending. Frankie leads a lonely existence, alienated from his only daughter and having few friends. Maggie Fitzgerald wins a "humble beginnings" contest nine times out of ten. A fulfilling life requires hope for the future -- new vistas to reach, new goals to achieve. Ziff Davis, LLC BBB Business Review. He has taught a Jewish medical ethics class for the past 15 years. Maggie is alive and kicking. She trained for nearly five hours every day, winding up with a potentially life-threatening staphylococcus infection. Is it really possible for a person to want to live following an injury like Maggie's? I wish that the scriptwriters would have given her the happy ending that Lewis got when he went up against Tyson ten years ago in Memphis. Accompanied by an attorney, their sole concern is to get Maggie's assets transferred to them. As she puts it, I was born two pounds, one-and-a-half ounces. Omissions? in spades. The controversy failed to dent the films popularity. However, managers stop pitting their fighters against her as a result, and Frankie, out of necessity, moves Maggie up to the next weight class. . One such movie to deliver an emotional punch to the audience is Million Dollar Baby. As Maggie heads back to her corner after the end of the round, however, the Bear ambushes her with a blow to the head. Maggie Fitzgerald While the fictional Maggie is convinced that her life is over after her injury, the real Christopher Reeve chose to define himself not as the movie star he had been, but rather by his future potential -- limited in some respects, but boundless nonetheless. Mary Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald is a fictional character appearing in the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby. Then Maggie Fitzgerald walks into his gym and then his life changes. Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) has trained and managed some incredible fighters during a lifetime spent in the ring. He trained under Dub Huntley, who taught him the tricks of the trade while also introducing him to some well known names in boxing. Is Million Dollar Baby based on true events? Scrap gives Maggie some tips and lets her borrow a speed bag. For those who are new and are wondering about why this was necessary, read the shift in editing starting March 1st blog. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris: Don't say that. The Academy Award-winning film forces us to assess the value of life amidst a shattered dream. Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film. But in such a state of presumed depression, is it in her best interest for us to give her decision-making autonomy to end her life? Hollywood star Hilary Swank rose to fame in the late 90s with one of her most incredible performances her portrayal of Brandon Teena in the biographical movie Boys Don't Cry.In 2004 the actress portrayed aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's sports drama movie Million Dollar Baby.For both of her performances, Hilary won an Academy Award in the category Best Lead Actress. Dunn is a cantankerous Irish-American trainer, revealed to be estranged from his own daughter. The highs in Maggies arc are matched by the crushing lows later in the film when Fitzgeralds impressive, undefeated streak is derailed by a freak accident. [citation needed] The titular phrase 'million dollar baby' was used as an insult during pre-fight publicity by Sonny Liston to Muhammad Ali, the latter of whom was an underdog at the time. They arrive only after first touring Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Some writers excoriated it as being a politically motivated piece to argue in favour of legalizing euthanasia, while disability-rights activists complained that the movie wrongly gave the impression that people living with a disability would be better off dead, maintaining that a better ending would have shown Maggie overcoming her despair and embracing her new life. Narration is revealed to be a letter to Frankie 's daughter, informing of. 42 years working as a copy editor and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica 2004 American sports drama film was because you. 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