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* {{Determinator}}: No matter how discouraging her circumstances or the people around her get, Maggie refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a boxing champion. [[spoiler: After she's paralyzed, she's no less determined to end her own life.]]
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* {{Determinator}}: No matter how discouraging her circumstances or the people around her get, Maggie refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a boxing champion. [[spoiler: After [[spoiler:After she's paralyzed, she's no less determined to end her own life.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Downplayed: It's not shown that Billie the Blue Bear was disqualified, probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed), but the referee was getting annoyed with her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Downplayed: [[spoiler:Downplayed: It's not shown that Billie the Blue Bear was disqualified, probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed), but the referee was getting annoyed with her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
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don\'t spoiler tropes
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* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not a case of UnfortunateImplications; it was deliberate.
* [[spoiler:CareerEndingInjury]]: To Maggie.
** Not so much, as he was planning to retire after his 110th fight, but Eddie had one at his 109th.
* [[spoiler:CareerEndingInjury]]: To Maggie.
** Not so much, as he was planning to retire after his 110th fight, but Eddie had one at his 109th.
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* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: BuryYourDisabled: [[spoiler:Maggie is a Type 3 -- and 3, begging Frankie to end her suffering]] not a case of UnfortunateImplications; it was deliberate.
*[[spoiler:CareerEndingInjury]]: To Maggie.
** Not so much, as he was planning to retire after his 110th fight, butCareerEndingInjury: Eddie had one at his 109th.109th fight, losing one of his eyes. [[spoiler: Maggie takes a hit and falls onto a stool which breaks her spine and leaves her paralyzed.]]
*
** Not so much, as he was planning to retire after his 110th fight, but
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* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: And a controversial one at that.]]
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* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: DownerEnding: And a controversial one at that.]]
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* [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: Maggie herself at the end.]]
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* [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: Maggie TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Maggie herself at the end.]]
* SickeningCrunch: [[spoiler:When Maggie breaks her neck on the corner stool.]]
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* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie realizes how sub-par the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
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* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie WorstAid: [[spoiler:Frankie realizes how sub-par the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
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----
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----
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* IHaveNoSon: Inverted, in the end, Maggie disowns her family after being the pieces of shit they are.
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* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Downplayed: It's not shown that Billie the Blue Bear was disqualified, probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
to:
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Downplayed: It's not shown that Billie the Blue Bear was disqualified, probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), paralyzed), but the referee was getting annoyed with her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
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Please give a reason before deleting, until then. This goes back
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Downplayed: It's not shown that Billie the Blue Bear was disqualified, probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler: It wasn't clear if Billie was punished for permanently injuring Maggie.]]
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* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie realizes how subpar the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
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* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie realizes how subpar sub-par the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
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* AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Creator/ClintEastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
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* AcademyAward: UsefulNotes/AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Creator/ClintEastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
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** Not so much, as he was planning to retire after his 110th fight, but Eddie had one at his 109th.
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* GutPunch: or in this specific case [[spoiler: a sucker punch from behind, which triggered the GenreShift]]
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* GutPunch: or Or in this specific case case, [[spoiler: a sucker punch from behind, which triggered the GenreShift]]GenreShift]].
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* AFatherToHisMen: Frankie does far more to those he trains than just teaching them how to box; helping Willie Little dealing with a car dealer and Maggie with her family [[spoiler:and injury]].
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* AFatherToHisMen: Frankie does far more to those he trains than just teaching them how to box; helping Willie Little dealing with a car dealer and Maggie with her family [[spoiler:and injury]].
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* ArtisticLicenseSports: During the title bout, the Blue Bear commits several fouls that would result in immediate automatic disqualification in a real boxing match, but only receives warnings and/or point deductions for them. This was parodied by, of all things, ''ScaryMovie 4''.
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* GretzkyHasTheBall: During the title bout, the Blue Bear commits several fouls that would result in immediate automatic disqualification in a real boxing match, but only receives warnings and/or point deductions for them. This was parodied by, of all things, ''ScaryMovie 4''.
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So, No Except Yes ?
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** There are a ''lot'' of quick close-ups on the stool that Eastwood puts in the ring after each round. I bet that doesn't have anything to do with [[spoiler:Maggie's death - oh wait.]]
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** There are a ''lot'' of quick close-ups on the stool that Eastwood puts in the ring after each round. I bet that doesn't have anything to do with [[spoiler:Maggie's death - oh wait.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Billie the Blue Bear]].
** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
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Margaret Fitzerald (HilarySwank) is a down-and-out waitress striving for a better life. So she does what all down-and-out waitress do to help herself out - she learns how to box. The first portion of the movie deals with Margaret training herself at the Hit Pit trying to get Frankie Dunn (Creator/ClintEastwood) to train her into becoming a credible boxer. She eventually succeeds and is able to get Frankie and another trainer and former boxer Eddie Dupris (Creator/MorganFreeman) to warm up to her.
to:
Margaret Fitzerald (HilarySwank) (Creator/HilarySwank) is a down-and-out waitress striving for a better life. So she does what all down-and-out waitress do to help herself out - she learns how to box. The first portion of the movie deals with Margaret training herself at the Hit Pit trying to get Frankie Dunn (Creator/ClintEastwood) to train her into becoming a credible boxer. She eventually succeeds and is able to get Frankie and another trainer and former boxer Eddie Dupris (Creator/MorganFreeman) to warm up to her.
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* CastTheExpert: Maggie's opponent in her final match was played by Lucia Rijker, a champion female boxer in RealLife.
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* DuelingMovies:
** With regards to theme: ''CinderellaMan'', a more conventional OscarBait boxing flick that came out in the same year, but ran out of buzz long before the awards season rolled round.
** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be Creator/MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
* DyeingForYourArt
** With regards to theme: ''CinderellaMan'', a more conventional OscarBait boxing flick that came out in the same year, but ran out of buzz long before the awards season rolled round.
** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be Creator/MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
* DyeingForYourArt
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* FakeIrish: Averted in case of Frankie Dunn: the actor does have Irish ancestry. HilarySwank, not so much, but her character doesn't have any connection to Ireland besides the last name Fitzgerald.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious'' and now as the Falcon in ''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious'' and now as the Falcon in''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious'' and now as the Falcon in''Captain in ''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious''.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious''.''Notorious'' and now as the Falcon in''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''.
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** Likely a subversion, Frankie clearly wants to believe that the doctors are incompetent because [[spoiler: they can't fix Maggie's spine. He eventually has to accept that she's just too badly injured to be fixed.]]
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** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
to:
** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be MartinScorsese's Creator/MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
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* AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Clint Eastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
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* AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Clint Eastwood's Creator/ClintEastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
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* CoolOldGuy: ClintEastwood and MorganFreeman. Need I say more?
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* CoolOldGuy: ClintEastwood Creator/ClintEastwood and MorganFreeman. Need I say more?
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** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Clint Eastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
to:
** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Clint Eastwood Creator/ClintEastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
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* AllThereInTheScript: Morgan Freeman's character's full name is "Eddie 'Scrap Iron' Dupris", but he's only ever called "Scrap" by the other characters.
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* TheAtoner: Frankie has made a point of attending Mass every day for 23 years straight, in penance for doing ''something'' that irreparably damaged his relationship with his daughter. As Father Horvak correctly points out, "The only man who comes to church that much is the kind that can't forgive himself for something."
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* TheUnreveal: We never learn ''what'', exactly, Frankie did that drove his daughter away. Apparently it was so bad that [[TheAtoner he's made a point of attending Mass nearly every day for 23 years straight]].
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[[quoteright:267:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/million_dollar_baby_3607.jpg]]
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* BadassGrandpa: Morgan Freeman's character, particularly when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome single-handedly KOs]] an upstart JerkAss boxer.
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* BadassGrandpa: Morgan Freeman's character, particularly when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome single-handedly KOs]] an upstart JerkAss boxer.
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* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication; it was deliberate.
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* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication; a case of UnfortunateImplications; it was deliberate.
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* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication, because the writer/director/producer/actors clearly mean it.
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).
to:
* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication, because the writer/director/producer/actors clearly mean it.
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).UnfortunateImplication; it was deliberate.
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).
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Why is this a spoiler?
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* [[spoiler:InspirationallyDisabled]]: Danger has shades of this.
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* [[spoiler:InspirationallyDisabled]]: InspirationallyDisabled: Danger has shades of this.
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* EntitledBastard: Maggie's mother seems to think that the world, and Maggie in particular, owes her a fortune even though she's a welfare queen who makes no effort to improve her lot. After Maggie buys her a house with no strings attached, she has the audacity to ''scold'' Maggie for not giving her cash.
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* EntitledBastard: Maggie's mother seems to think that the world, and Maggie in particular, owes her a fortune even though she's a welfare queen who makes no effort to improve her lot. After Maggie buys her a house with no strings attached, she has the audacity to ''scold'' scold Maggie for not ''not giving her cash.''
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* EntitledBastard: Maggie's mother seems to think that the world, and Maggie in particular, owes her a fortune even though she's a welfare queen who makes no effort to improve her lot. After Maggie buys her a house with no strings attached, she has the audacity to ''scold'' Maggie for not giving her cash.
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* [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: Maggie herself at the end.]]
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* DeadLittleSister: Well, estranged little daughter for Frankie.
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<<|{{Film}}|>>
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->''"Working the bag, boss."''
A 2004 film directed by Creator/ClintEastwood.
Margaret Fitzerald (HilarySwank) is a down-and-out waitress striving for a better life. So she does what all down-and-out waitress do to help herself out - she learns how to box. The first portion of the movie deals with Margaret training herself at the Hit Pit trying to get Frankie Dunn (Creator/ClintEastwood) to train her into becoming a credible boxer. She eventually succeeds and is able to get Frankie and another trainer and former boxer Eddie Dupris (Creator/MorganFreeman) to warm up to her.
After a good deal of training she enters into the world of professional women's boxing and becomes a remarkable fighter. Eventually the movie takes a turn for the worse.
Noted for its strong characters and interesting storyline, the film won four Oscars.
----
!!This film contains examples of:
* AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Clint Eastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
* AFatherToHisMen: Frankie does far more to those he trains than just teaching them how to box; helping Willie Little dealing with a car dealer and Maggie with her family [[spoiler:and injury]].
* ArcWords: "Mo chuisle". Maggie doesn't find out what they mean until the end of the movie.
* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: The movie generally makes a hash of the Irish it tries to use. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] however in that none of the characters speak Irish, and Frankie, who most frequently attempts it, is trying unsuccessfully to learn the language to get in touch with his Irish heritage. Of particular note is the significant phrase "mo chuisle," which the film spells "mo cuisle" (nouns take a "h" after the second letter when they're possessed).
* BadassGrandpa: Morgan Freeman's character, particularly when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome single-handedly KOs]] an upstart JerkAss boxer.
* BraidsOfAction: Maggie and most of the other female boxers.
* BreakTheCutie: Poor, poor Danger Barch.
* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication, because the writer/director/producer/actors clearly mean it.
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).
* [[spoiler:CareerEndingInjury]]: To Maggie.
* CastTheExpert: Maggie's opponent in her final match was played by Lucia Rijker, a champion female boxer in RealLife.
* CasualtyInTheRing: Eddie [[EyeScream lost the eyesight in one of his eyes]] years ago.
** [[spoiler: And Maggie becomes a quadraplegic.]]
* ChekhovsGun:
** Maggie's story about [[spoiler:her dog Axel and her father putting it down when it was sick.]] Actually used more skillfully in the film than in the short story, in which she tells the story right before [[spoiler: asking Frankie to kill her]]. In the movie it comes a good hour beforehand.
** Maggie asks if [[spoiler:she should send some kind of gift to a girl whom she concussed in the ring, Frank dismisses it.]] It foreshadows that [[spoiler:injuries happen in the ring, and that the fighters that did the injuring aren't expected to turn up again in the rest of the movie.]]
** There are a ''lot'' of quick close-ups on the stool that Eastwood puts in the ring after each round. I bet that doesn't have anything to do with [[spoiler:Maggie's death - oh wait.]]
* {{Chiaroscuro}}: Used all over the place for dramatic effect.
* CoolOldGuy: ClintEastwood and MorganFreeman. Need I say more?
* CorruptHick: Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald's family, who hail from the Ozarks. They care little about Maggie's well-being, and will cheerfully cross the MoralEventHorizon just to get her money. Maggie herself is a DefectorFromDecadence.
* CynicalMentor: Frankie Dunn.
* DeadpanSnarker: All three lead characters love to exchange sarcastic remarks.
* DeadLittleSister: Well, estranged little daughter for Frankie.
* {{Determinator}}: No matter how discouraging her circumstances or the people around her get, Maggie refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a boxing champion. [[spoiler: After she's paralyzed, she's no less determined to end her own life.]]
* DisappearedDad: Maggie's father, who died long before she started her boxing career.
* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: And a controversial one at that.]]
* DuelingMovies:
** With regards to theme: ''CinderellaMan'', a more conventional OscarBait boxing flick that came out in the same year, but ran out of buzz long before the awards season rolled round.
** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
* DyeingForYourArt
* EtTuBrute: Willie Little abandoning Frankie early in the film after years of working with him for the chance to become rich and famous.
* FakeIrish: Averted in case of Frankie Dunn: the actor does have Irish ancestry. HilarySwank, not so much, but her character doesn't have any connection to Ireland besides the last name Fitzgerald.
* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator: Eddie. He spends his days as a glorified janitor and occasional trainer assistant.
* ForeignWrestlingHeel: Billie the Blue Bear, described as a "former East Berlin prostitute" with no regard for sportsmanship or the safety of opponents.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:One of these days, that East German boxer is going to kill someone.]] For more, see above for [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Anecdote]].
* GenreShift: Starts as sports movie about a woman trying to improve her life by becoming a boxer and ends [[spoiler: as a massive TearJerker about assisted suicide]].
* GretzkyHasTheBall: During the title bout, the Blue Bear commits several fouls that would result in immediate automatic disqualification in a real boxing match, but only receives warnings and/or point deductions for them. This was parodied by, of all things, ''ScaryMovie 4''.
* GutPunch: or in this specific case [[spoiler: a sucker punch from behind, which triggered the GenreShift]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Frankie and Eddie.
* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious''.
* [[spoiler:InspirationallyDisabled]]: Danger has shades of this.
* {{Jerkass}}: Maggie's family, especially her mother, shows ''astounding'' levels of [[PerfectlyCromulentWord dickitude]], with a generous helping of hypocrisy.
** Her mother berates her for taking up boxing even though she's good at it and it's making her rich, insisting it's not something a lady should do. She herself is on welfare and doing nothing to improve her situation.
** When she starts winning big purses, Maggie buys her mother a house. ''A house.'' She berates Maggie for not giving her cash instead. If she's a homeowner, you see, she won't qualify for welfare anymore and she doesn't want to work. [[spoiler:Toward the end, we find out she never signed the ownership transfer paperwork even though she's living in the house, and it's a major plot point that Maggie still owns the house.]]
** [[spoiler:When Maggie is paralyzed, her family visits her in the nursing home, ''after'' spending a week at Disneyworld and Universal Studios, and tries to get Maggie to sign over all her money to them. This apparently crosses a line, as Maggie tells them that not only are they not getting one dime, if they or their lawyer ever speak to her again she'll sell the house out from under them.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Frankie.
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Billie the Blue Bear]].
** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Clint Eastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
* [[spoiler:KillTheOnesYouLove: Makes use of ChekhovsSkill as Frankie uses his expert knowledge of adrenaline to do the deed.]]
* {{Oireland}}: Invoked. Clint's character tries to rediscover his Irish roots by attending Catholic mass without understanding the substance of the religion, learning Gaelic reading Creator/WilliamButlerYeats (who mostly wrote in English), and giving Maggie an Irish boxing gimmick.
* OpposingSportsTeam: Not a team, but Billie the Blue Bear otherwise fits the trope with her intimidating aura and willingness to break the rules.
* OscarBait: Due to ending, three huge stars as the main characters, and the usual triumph over adversity [[spoiler:turning into even [[FromBadToWorse more adversity]]]], this was a shoo-in.
* ParentalSubstitute: Frankie, for Maggie.
* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Frankie makes some mildly sexist comments and initially refuses to do anything to help Maggie, though his opinion of her changes as the movie goes along.
** [[spoiler:Helping Maggie kill herself after she is paralyzed]] also at least partially counts for this.
* PrecisionFStrike:
-->'''Frankie Dunn:''' So is Jesus a Demigod?
-->'''Father Horvak:''' There are no Demigods, you fucking Pagan!
* RetiredBadass: Eddie's one, as Shawrelle finds out.
* RuleOfDrama: As powerful as they are, [[spoiler:the hospital scenes]] are a tad unrealistic. In RealLife, [[spoiler: hospitalized patients have every right to decline treatment. If they're attached to a breathing machine against their will, they don't have to attempt suicide or beg friends to euthanize them. They can just ask doctors to turn off their respirator. And no hospital would ever keep a patient sedated 24/7 just to stop them from committing suicide--they would more likely get them psychiatric counseling or put them on anti-depressants]].
* ShootTheDog: Maggie relates a story about her father euthanizing her family's crippled dog.
** [[spoiler:And Frankie later does the same thing for Maggie.]]
* ThereAreNoTherapists: [[spoiler: Towards the end, Maggie becomes so despondent that she attempts suicide by biting her tongue and begs Frankie to pull the plug on her. The hospital's first reaction is to keep her sedated 24/7 so she can't attempt suicide--instead of getting her the psychiatric help that she obviously needs.]]
* TongueTrauma: [[spoiler: After she's paralyzed, Maggie tries to commit suicide by biting through her tongue.]]
* TrainingMontage: Maggie gets one, though minus the cheesy music.
* WhatMightHaveBeen: MorganFreeman originally auditioned for the role of Frankie before being cast as Eddie. Also, screenwriter/producer Paul Haggis wanted to direct this himself, but scheduling conflicts with ''Film/{{Crash}}'' forced him to hand the project to Clint.
* WordSaladTitle: Million what-what? It makes more sense when you see the film, but you still wonder surely there must have been a better name for it.
* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie realizes how subpar the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
* YouAreNotAlone: Frankie says words to this effect to Maggie after she [[spoiler:is estranged from her family.]]
----
<<|{{Film}}|>>
A 2004 film directed by Creator/ClintEastwood.
Margaret Fitzerald (HilarySwank) is a down-and-out waitress striving for a better life. So she does what all down-and-out waitress do to help herself out - she learns how to box. The first portion of the movie deals with Margaret training herself at the Hit Pit trying to get Frankie Dunn (Creator/ClintEastwood) to train her into becoming a credible boxer. She eventually succeeds and is able to get Frankie and another trainer and former boxer Eddie Dupris (Creator/MorganFreeman) to warm up to her.
After a good deal of training she enters into the world of professional women's boxing and becomes a remarkable fighter. Eventually the movie takes a turn for the worse.
Noted for its strong characters and interesting storyline, the film won four Oscars.
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!!This film contains examples of:
* AcademyAward: Four, in fact. Clint Eastwood's second Best Director, Hilary Swank's second Best Actress, Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture of 2004.
* AFatherToHisMen: Frankie does far more to those he trains than just teaching them how to box; helping Willie Little dealing with a car dealer and Maggie with her family [[spoiler:and injury]].
* ArcWords: "Mo chuisle". Maggie doesn't find out what they mean until the end of the movie.
* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: The movie generally makes a hash of the Irish it tries to use. Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] however in that none of the characters speak Irish, and Frankie, who most frequently attempts it, is trying unsuccessfully to learn the language to get in touch with his Irish heritage. Of particular note is the significant phrase "mo chuisle," which the film spells "mo cuisle" (nouns take a "h" after the second letter when they're possessed).
* BadassGrandpa: Morgan Freeman's character, particularly when he [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome single-handedly KOs]] an upstart JerkAss boxer.
* BraidsOfAction: Maggie and most of the other female boxers.
* BreakTheCutie: Poor, poor Danger Barch.
* [[spoiler:BuryYourDisabled]]: Type 3 -- and not an UnfortunateImplication, because the writer/director/producer/actors clearly mean it.
** The ''characters'' involved meant it. You should never imply a movie character speaks for its writer (unless it's an autobiography), far less its actor (unless it's AsHimself).
* [[spoiler:CareerEndingInjury]]: To Maggie.
* CastTheExpert: Maggie's opponent in her final match was played by Lucia Rijker, a champion female boxer in RealLife.
* CasualtyInTheRing: Eddie [[EyeScream lost the eyesight in one of his eyes]] years ago.
** [[spoiler: And Maggie becomes a quadraplegic.]]
* ChekhovsGun:
** Maggie's story about [[spoiler:her dog Axel and her father putting it down when it was sick.]] Actually used more skillfully in the film than in the short story, in which she tells the story right before [[spoiler: asking Frankie to kill her]]. In the movie it comes a good hour beforehand.
** Maggie asks if [[spoiler:she should send some kind of gift to a girl whom she concussed in the ring, Frank dismisses it.]] It foreshadows that [[spoiler:injuries happen in the ring, and that the fighters that did the injuring aren't expected to turn up again in the rest of the movie.]]
** There are a ''lot'' of quick close-ups on the stool that Eastwood puts in the ring after each round. I bet that doesn't have anything to do with [[spoiler:Maggie's death - oh wait.]]
* {{Chiaroscuro}}: Used all over the place for dramatic effect.
* CoolOldGuy: ClintEastwood and MorganFreeman. Need I say more?
* CorruptHick: Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald's family, who hail from the Ozarks. They care little about Maggie's well-being, and will cheerfully cross the MoralEventHorizon just to get her money. Maggie herself is a DefectorFromDecadence.
* CynicalMentor: Frankie Dunn.
* DeadpanSnarker: All three lead characters love to exchange sarcastic remarks.
* DeadLittleSister: Well, estranged little daughter for Frankie.
* {{Determinator}}: No matter how discouraging her circumstances or the people around her get, Maggie refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a boxing champion. [[spoiler: After she's paralyzed, she's no less determined to end her own life.]]
* DisappearedDad: Maggie's father, who died long before she started her boxing career.
* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: And a controversial one at that.]]
* DuelingMovies:
** With regards to theme: ''CinderellaMan'', a more conventional OscarBait boxing flick that came out in the same year, but ran out of buzz long before the awards season rolled round.
** It was something of an upstart at the Oscars, as everyone was expecting ''TheAviator'' to be MartinScorsese's long-awaited triumph. MDB strolled in without an ounce of hype and walked away with best picture and best director.
* DyeingForYourArt
* EtTuBrute: Willie Little abandoning Frankie early in the film after years of working with him for the chance to become rich and famous.
* FakeIrish: Averted in case of Frankie Dunn: the actor does have Irish ancestry. HilarySwank, not so much, but her character doesn't have any connection to Ireland besides the last name Fitzgerald.
* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator: Eddie. He spends his days as a glorified janitor and occasional trainer assistant.
* ForeignWrestlingHeel: Billie the Blue Bear, described as a "former East Berlin prostitute" with no regard for sportsmanship or the safety of opponents.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:One of these days, that East German boxer is going to kill someone.]] For more, see above for [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Anecdote]].
* GenreShift: Starts as sports movie about a woman trying to improve her life by becoming a boxer and ends [[spoiler: as a massive TearJerker about assisted suicide]].
* GretzkyHasTheBall: During the title bout, the Blue Bear commits several fouls that would result in immediate automatic disqualification in a real boxing match, but only receives warnings and/or point deductions for them. This was parodied by, of all things, ''ScaryMovie 4''.
* GutPunch: or in this specific case [[spoiler: a sucker punch from behind, which triggered the GenreShift]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Frankie and Eddie.
* HeyItsThatGuy: Shawrelle is played by Anthony Mackie, who is easily recognizable from ''TheHurtLocker'' and the Biggie Smalls biopic ''Notorious''.
* [[spoiler:InspirationallyDisabled]]: Danger has shades of this.
* {{Jerkass}}: Maggie's family, especially her mother, shows ''astounding'' levels of [[PerfectlyCromulentWord dickitude]], with a generous helping of hypocrisy.
** Her mother berates her for taking up boxing even though she's good at it and it's making her rich, insisting it's not something a lady should do. She herself is on welfare and doing nothing to improve her situation.
** When she starts winning big purses, Maggie buys her mother a house. ''A house.'' She berates Maggie for not giving her cash instead. If she's a homeowner, you see, she won't qualify for welfare anymore and she doesn't want to work. [[spoiler:Toward the end, we find out she never signed the ownership transfer paperwork even though she's living in the house, and it's a major plot point that Maggie still owns the house.]]
** [[spoiler:When Maggie is paralyzed, her family visits her in the nursing home, ''after'' spending a week at Disneyworld and Universal Studios, and tries to get Maggie to sign over all her money to them. This apparently crosses a line, as Maggie tells them that not only are they not getting one dime, if they or their lawyer ever speak to her again she'll sell the house out from under them.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Frankie.
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Billie the Blue Bear]].
** Not neccessarily. It isn't shown (probably because Clint Eastwood felt that it would distract the audience from [[spoiler: the fact that Maggie has been paralyzed]]), but the referee was getting annoyed with [[spoiler: her constant breaking of the rules, and even threatened to disqualify her once. Bille was probably disqualified immediately once the doctors realized the injuries she had inflicted on Maggie after ''intentionally punching her while the stool was in the way''.]]
* [[spoiler:KillTheOnesYouLove: Makes use of ChekhovsSkill as Frankie uses his expert knowledge of adrenaline to do the deed.]]
* {{Oireland}}: Invoked. Clint's character tries to rediscover his Irish roots by attending Catholic mass without understanding the substance of the religion, learning Gaelic reading Creator/WilliamButlerYeats (who mostly wrote in English), and giving Maggie an Irish boxing gimmick.
* OpposingSportsTeam: Not a team, but Billie the Blue Bear otherwise fits the trope with her intimidating aura and willingness to break the rules.
* OscarBait: Due to ending, three huge stars as the main characters, and the usual triumph over adversity [[spoiler:turning into even [[FromBadToWorse more adversity]]]], this was a shoo-in.
* ParentalSubstitute: Frankie, for Maggie.
* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Frankie makes some mildly sexist comments and initially refuses to do anything to help Maggie, though his opinion of her changes as the movie goes along.
** [[spoiler:Helping Maggie kill herself after she is paralyzed]] also at least partially counts for this.
* PrecisionFStrike:
-->'''Frankie Dunn:''' So is Jesus a Demigod?
-->'''Father Horvak:''' There are no Demigods, you fucking Pagan!
* RetiredBadass: Eddie's one, as Shawrelle finds out.
* RuleOfDrama: As powerful as they are, [[spoiler:the hospital scenes]] are a tad unrealistic. In RealLife, [[spoiler: hospitalized patients have every right to decline treatment. If they're attached to a breathing machine against their will, they don't have to attempt suicide or beg friends to euthanize them. They can just ask doctors to turn off their respirator. And no hospital would ever keep a patient sedated 24/7 just to stop them from committing suicide--they would more likely get them psychiatric counseling or put them on anti-depressants]].
* ShootTheDog: Maggie relates a story about her father euthanizing her family's crippled dog.
** [[spoiler:And Frankie later does the same thing for Maggie.]]
* ThereAreNoTherapists: [[spoiler: Towards the end, Maggie becomes so despondent that she attempts suicide by biting her tongue and begs Frankie to pull the plug on her. The hospital's first reaction is to keep her sedated 24/7 so she can't attempt suicide--instead of getting her the psychiatric help that she obviously needs.]]
* TongueTrauma: [[spoiler: After she's paralyzed, Maggie tries to commit suicide by biting through her tongue.]]
* TrainingMontage: Maggie gets one, though minus the cheesy music.
* WhatMightHaveBeen: MorganFreeman originally auditioned for the role of Frankie before being cast as Eddie. Also, screenwriter/producer Paul Haggis wanted to direct this himself, but scheduling conflicts with ''Film/{{Crash}}'' forced him to hand the project to Clint.
* WordSaladTitle: Million what-what? It makes more sense when you see the film, but you still wonder surely there must have been a better name for it.
* [[spoiler:WorstAid: Frankie realizes how subpar the quality of care is at the hospital Maggie goes to after losing the title match and breaking her spine and arranges to have her moved to a better one.]]
* YouAreNotAlone: Frankie says words to this effect to Maggie after she [[spoiler:is estranged from her family.]]
----
<<|{{Film}}|>>
