"I don't train girls," trainer Frankie Dunn growls. But something's different about the spirited boxing hopeful who shows up daily at Dunn's gym. All she wants is a fighting chance.
    Clint Eastwood plays Dunn and directs, produces and composes music for this acclaimed, multiaward-winning tale of heart, hope and family. Hilary Swank plays resilient Maggie, determined not to abandon her one dream. And Morgan Freeman is Scrap, gym caretaker and counterpart to Dunn's crustiness. Grab your dreams and come out swinging, Million Dollar Baby is an absolute knockout.

STARRING:

Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

SCREENWRITER: Paul Haggis

DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood

RUNNING TIME: 132 minutes

STUDIO: Warner Brothers

Average Hollywood Guys Rating: B -

• Hilary Swank gained twenty pounds of muscle during her training for this movie.
• Originally Sandra Bulluck was attached to play the role of Maggie, but she had to drop the part due to her commitment to Miss Congeniality 2: Armed And Fabulous.
• This movie is based on a collection of stories called Rope Burns: Stories From The Corner, it was based on the life experiences of Jerry Boyd who wrote the book under the pen name F.X. Toole.
• This film was scheduled to film in a grueling 49 days, but amazingly was finished in 37.
• This film won the Best Picture, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Director (Clint Eastwood), and Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) in 2005. It was also nominated for Best Actor (Clint Eastwood), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing but did not win.
• Clint Eastwood became the oldest director to win a Best Director Oscar at age 74.
• Screenwriter Paul Haggis quit his television career which included creating and writing for such shows as Walker Texas Ranger in order to start a film writing career in 2000. This film marks his first completed script.