Thursday, August 11, 2005
I recall telling myself that Million Dollar Baby was merely a feminist version of Rocky. So no big deal, it's just boxing. The trailer showed quite a few shots of Eastwood, Swank and Freeman chatting and working out in some run-down gym. Just like Sly. Right? Yeah, right.
Waitress from a broken family likes boxing and teams up with aging trainer whose best fighter recently drops him. Boxer girl goes all the way to world title bout. And then.
I won't 'spoil' the ending for you but suffice to say you ain't gonna hear The Eye of the Tiger at the end (though I sure wish I could).
One of my company directors told us he loved the movie and cried at the end. Well, I can understand the crying part, but what about the movie is there to love? The rags-to-riches theme? Okay, but the 'riches' part wasn't really played up (and I don't think it's because Eastwood lacked the budget). The part where Swank told her mother to move her 'lazy, Hillbilly ass' and leave? That was cool, except you don't love a scene like that. You just enjoy it and get a big high from it. The against-the-odds mentality of Swank's character? Sure, except - nah, you watch the movie.
For the rest of you NOT living in the midst of a burning heap, good for you! Enjoy the air! The good things of life are often the simplest, don't-notice-unless-it's-gone stuff! Hey if it's tough on us, think about the birds. At least (like right now) I get to sit inside (as opposed to some nicotine-loving people sitting outside) an air-conditioned 'forward-looking concept coffee par-lour, drink latte served in a cup which has "Coffee, Conversation & Connectivity" written on it, enjoy alternative music, get connected, upload esoteric pieces like this one on Calvinism plus an Edward de Bono inspired chart for Christian thinking and think about an upcoming trip to (hopefully haze-free) Penang this weekend.
The birds don't get to do this. But heck I could've sworn that sparrow looked a LOT happier than the average dude on the street...
