Hollywood was built on the foundation laid down by the forefathers of cinema, the old-time actors and directors that wanted to create moving art through the medium of a film. And one of the most influential individuals of that time was none other than legendary actor Clint Eastwood, who is also widely regarded as the greatest movie star of all time.
But along with giving nothing but exceptional performances all his life, the star is also revered as one of the most impactful and versatile filmmakers of all time, right up there with the best of the best. And what a good director must ensure is the performance he’s looking for gets delivered on screen, something that he had complete faith would be executed perfectly by Hilary Swank in this film.
Hilary Swank’s Past Made Clint Eastwood Choose Her For Million Dollar Baby
With more than half a decade of his life dedicated to the art of acting and filmmaking, Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has experienced everything that the industry had to offer while also leaving an impression for generations to come. And one of the most solidifying projects of his illustrious career is his 2004 sports drama film Million Dollar Baby, which starred Hilary Swank, who reflected her entire life through this one performance in the film.
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Being the director of the aforementioned film, it was up to him to choose the best possible actress to play the role of Maggie, who was supposed to be a girl coming from humble beginnings to start a new life for herself. And when the Dirty Harry star heard that Swank had gone through something very similar in her life, he immediately knew what to do. And sure enough, the film went on to become a commercial and critical success as it also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. During the award acceptance speech, the Boys Don’t Cry star said:
“I’m just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream.”
With these minimal yet emotional words, she accepted the award from the Academy and went on to live life like she wanted to. Even when she faced hardships during filming, she chalked it up to living the life of a fighter, pushing onward even through pain, living her character in reality.
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What Was Million Dollar Baby About?
When it seems like everything around you is slowly starting to feel dangerously monotonous, to the point where you start forgetting how to live, someone comes into your life that makes you feel whole again. This film brings that and so much more with its emotional and mental rollercoaster ride about a young girl Maggie that wants to turn her life around, she meets Frankie, an old boxing gym coach that is living with his memories of finer days. Soon, as they train together, they start to find themselves with the help and support of each other.
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Million Dollar Baby, available on Google Play.
Source: SlashFilm
