Hilary Swank

2004 – Million Dollar Baby

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Million Dollar Baby
  • IMDB: link

Million Dollar BabyNo matter how many times I’ve seen the film, there’s a moment in Million Dollar Baby that hits me like a jab straight to the gut, far harder than any thrown inside the ring in this film about boxing, life, death, and balancing the consequences of all three. Even ten years later with the movie now available in a new Tenth Anniversary Blu-ray release I find myself reluctant to give away the twist for those who have not yet seen the film.

The movie is never about what you think it’s about. While borrowing aspects of your run-of-the-mill sports film, the script by Paul Haggis travels a winding road of subtle and abrupt turns, much like life. Earning near universal praise, Million Dollar Baby took home Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Clint Eastwood, Best Actress for Hillary Swank, and Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman. The film has aged well and, along with Sideways, The Incredibles, and Before Sunset, it remains one of my favorite films of 2004.

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P.S. This is a Bad Movie

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: P.S. I Love You
  • IMDb: link

P.S. I Love YouFresh off the insanely bad The Reaping (read that review) Hilary Swank takes this braindead romcom?  Why, Hilary, Why?  Okay, so it’s nowhere near the disaster of Mandy Moore’s films from earlier this year, but when that’s the only good thing I can say about it, well, that’s a problem.  Overfilled with enough cuteness to make a Care Bear strangle someone, this is a film best forgotten in movie hell, or inevitably replayed forever on Lifetime (which might be the same thing).

Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler) are the cutest couple ever!  They met cute, their first kiss was precious, and they even fight cute.  This movie is so stuffed with cuteness it makes The Care Bears Movie look like Schindler’s List.  Problem is, he’s dead.  But don’t worry, it’s not a downer because Holly even mopes cute.

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Freedom Writers

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Freedom Writers
  • IMDB: link

The idea of an inspiring teacher actually making a difference may seem cliche nowadays, but there’s nothing cliche about Freedom Writers. The tale of a young teacher struggling with gangs, and inner city violence, and a system which has all but given up on the very students she was hired to help learn is, simply put, a great film. There were plenty of films I thought were excellent from last year but none which hit me on such an emotionally raw level as this. Don’t miss it and don’t dismiss it; Freedom Writers just might be the best film you see this year.

The film begins with Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) interviewing for a teaching position at Wilson High School. The bright-eyed Gruwell just graduated from college and wants to change the world. Those around her including her husband (Patrick Dempsey), father (Scott Glenn), the head of the English department (Imelda Staunton), and even her students, don’t expect her to make it a week.

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