1018. Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby
2004
Directed by Clint Eastwood

A sports drama film!  You know that's my jam.  While I can't deny that this was a quality film, it was a grueling experience.

Maggie, a waitress from a struggling family, dreams of becoming a boxer, because apparently punching other women will improve her quality of life.  She asks Frankie Dunn, a cranky boxing trainer (think Walt Kowalski) to train her, but he refuses.  Eventually, he is impressed by her dedication and agrees to help her.  Oh and Morgan Freeman lurks in the shadows.

I don't like sports movies, least of all boxing movies, but the Listmakers seem to think that this is one of most crucial genres in the history of film.  I don't actually have a lot to say about this.  The performances were gritty and the story is incredibly depressing.  In other words, it was made to be a Best Picture winner.

I did find out that the filmmakers misspelled the term "mo chuisle" as "mo cuishle."  Copyeditors are truly the unsung heroes of our time.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Hilary Swank gained about 20 pounds of muscle during training for the film.

Sandra Bullock was originally going to play Maggie, but she dropped out to make Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.

848. Unforgiven

Unforgiven
1992
Directed by Clint Eastwood

The Western genre is dying or, arguably, dead.  I am pretty sure this is the last one in our Book, which is quite disappointing to me (although I realize that the genre is outdated, formulaic, and often racist).  At least the Western goes out with a bang.

Quick Mike and Davey Boy Bunting cut up a prostitute after she laughs at Quick Mike's tiny penis.  I suppose Mike had to reclaim his fragile manhood.  The sheriff, Little Bill Dagget, refuses to arrest the two cowboys, instead making them pay a fine to the brothel owner.  The other prostitutes are furious, and put a $1,000 bounty on Quick Mike and Davey Boy.  The Schofield Kid, a young man eager to win the money, recruits William Munny and Ned Logan to help him.  William and Ned are both retired gunfighters, but they agree to kill the two cowboys (because we all know what a hero Eastwood is to women).  Their task is further complicated by the fact that Little Bill does not allow guns in his town.  In conclusion, gun control is clearly evil.

I always love how Eastwood will pay homage to spaghetti Westerns, and you can definitely see that here.  The sets are just beautiful and the acting is a lot better than in our previous Eastwood directed films (Freeman raises the bar, as does Hackman).  It's a little on the long side, but the climax more than makes up for the wait.

So a great movie and hey, an Eastwood Western without rape.  Gotta grab those while you can.  Okay, I'll stop...

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The concept had been floating around Hollywood for 20 years before Clint Eastwood decided to direct the movie.

608. The Outlaw Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales
1976
Directed by Clint Eastwood

This movie was so unremarkable that I really don't think I would be able to pull it out of a line up.  It makes me wonder how it managed to earn a 1001 spot.

Josey Wales' family is murdered by Union soldiers.  He is driven to revenge and joins the Confederate Army.  Then he is further driven to revenge when his officer betrays their regiment.  Let's take it easy on the motivation, shall we?  Anyway, I am pretty sure that even someone who hadn't seen this movie could map out the rest of the plot.

I don't have a whole lot to say about this movie.  I suppose it wasn't awful and I definitely liked it better than High Plains Drifter (guys, the hero doesn't rape anyone!  It's a miracle). Maybe I have seen too many Westerns at this point, but this was completely forgettable for me.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Eastwood's favorite film that he made.  Um, why?

Received praise from Native American viewers for the film's non stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans.  Well, that's something.

546. High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter
1972
Directed by Clint Eastwood

Is it too much to ask to have a movie that doesn't involve some sort of horrific rape scene?  Apparently so in the seventies.

A stranger rides into town, kills some people, and rapes a woman.  Evidently impressed, the townsfolk ask the stranger to protect them against gunmen that they believe are going to attack the town for revenge.  The stranger agrees, as long as he can have access to all the goods and services the town has to offer for free and can make absurd decorating choices for absolutely no reason whatsoever (see above picture).

I have absolutely no idea what the point of this film was.  On the one hand, we are obviously supposed to think he is heroic.  He saves a town and gives to Native American children.  On the other hand, he is a goddamn rapist.  I think the only reason the rape was put in the film was to show that he was flawed.  I am sorry, but that is completely absurd.

Seriously, wake me up when the seventies end.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Eastwood wrote to John Wayne, asking him to make a western together.  Wayne wrote back an angry reply, denouncing this film for its violence.  Do I actually agree with John Wayne on something?