6.Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwoods 2004 Best Picture Oscar winner divided some audiences; expecting a female Rocky they got a surprise right hook of euthanasia and left the theatre with their heads down rather than arms in the air. Swank is Maggie, the 30 something white trash with aspirations of being a female boxing sensation and wants legendary cuts man turned trainer and owner of rough as nails inner-city gym Frankie Dunn to train her. But to her dismay, Dunn dont train girls. However, dumped by his star pugilist and with some gentle encouragement by friend and former boxer turned resident cleaner (Freeman), he takes Swank under his wing and in no time, she is a world beater, scoring K.Os around the globe and quickly matching up against the champion the menacing German Billie The Blue Bear. From here on its more Apollo vs Drago than Rocky vs Clubber 2. Eastwood and Freemans crotchety, grumpy old men somehow manage to steal the show from Swank, who puts in a stellar performance herself and was more than worthy of the best actress Oscar.