If your wanting a feel good happy ending movie, don’t watch this. At the end nobody in the cinema moved, everybody needing a ‘moment’.

Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank) is a female boxer who turns to trainer and gym owner Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) to fulfil her dream: to be a champ. Dunn, wearied by past mistakes is reluctant but gradually accepts her as she becomes his estranged daughter and he Maggie’s dead father. This has got Oscars written all over it (as of 2-feb-05 anyway), Swank is excellent, while Morgan and Eastwood are at the top of their profession.

Often lit with Eastwoods ‘1x40W bulb’ style every frame is simple, clear and neat and through it a powerful tale of belief, family and trust plays out. I just wish Eastwood would do a film that doesn’t leave you wanting to rewrite the ending.

Before the six million dollar man there was the million dollar baby.