I don't know if this has changed in the states yet, but when i was still living there people rarely went to a movie because of the director. Our theater decisions were almost always determined by who the star was rather than the person who is behind the overall creative decisions - which I have learned in my time on this planet is far more important than the actor for the most part.
However, when you combine a fantastic director with fantastic actors, you end up with solid gold, and that is precisely what happened with Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood plays the role of an underappreciated boxing trainer named Frankie Dunn, a man who is very set in his ways and runs a failing boxing camp. He isn't terribly interested in training a Missouri waitress named Maggie (played by Hillary Swank) who comes into his gym one day but she is persistent and stubborn and he eventually takes her on and she ends up impressing him and her complete dedication eventually also wins his heart in a father-figure type way.
Is there anyone out there that doesn't think that Morgan Freeman narrating a movie makes it much better? Well that is what happens in this movie. I think that pretty much any film that Freeman narrates ends up being a blockbuster. I challenge anyone out there to prove this theory wrong. Morgan's character of Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie's assistant and elderly former boxer who was blinded in one eye in a fight, is perfectly played (unsurprisingly) by Freeman.
This film is incredibly well-written and is damn near perfect. It is incredibly moving and touching and will almost certainly make even the most hardcore tough-guy a bit misty-eyed. This movie will haunt you. Even now as I am writing this I am seriously considering watching it yet again tonight because it is just that good.
With a budget of merely $30 million it ended up grossing more than $200 million and won 4 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actress in a leading role, and Best Director (Eastwood's 2nd.) It also one a ton of awards around the world but was snubbed by MTV - but I don't think anyone really gives a s**t what MTV thinks anymore (or then.) It was also in theaters for more than 6 months which has to be some kind of a record.
If i was to make a list of 10 films that a person absolutely must see in their lives, this would be on that list for sure. I can find absolutely nothing wrong with it, not even a little bit of negative criticism will come from this guy. It is damn near perfect and if you are one of the few people on the planet that somehow managed to not see it you should rectify this situation as soon as possible.