3. Million Dollar Baby (8.2)
If ever there was ever a movie "made-for-the-Oscars, " then this was it. I knew as soon it was released, that it was going to be the major Oscar contender of 2004. It features everything that the Academy has on its Oscar checklist; and in abundance: Clichés, patriotism, influential women and of course...it has Clint Eastwood. But, as history as proven, being Hollywood's Best Picture doesn't necessarily guarantee a great movie. In fact in my opinion, this will be the latest in a long line of Oscar winners that are bound to be forgotten in the annals of film history, (along with the likes of The Hurt Locker and Chicago.) The script was mediocre and over-clichéd, the acting was lethargic, (especially from Eastwood it has to be said), and the plot at times bordered on the ludicrious. I don't understand all the praise it has been recieving by renowned critics and IMDB users alike. It seems to me that people are too afraid to give it a bad review because Clint Eastwood is the Director and Star. What I found hilarious about the movie was how Maggie miraculously transforms from someone who doesn't know how to hit a speedbag, to someone who is suddenly ready for a shot at the world title after about half an hour screentime. In fact, I reckon if you combine all boxing sequences throughout, they'd probably only make up 15-20 minutes of the whole movie. The fact that it is considered a sports movie at all is indeed laughable, and so is its 8.2 rating!
My Rating: 7.4