On "Million Dollar Baby"
Spoiler alert: this review reveals how Clint Eastwood's 2004 movie ends.
There was a time when all
lesbians died in movies. That's no longer true: femme girls can end up with men, or even go off into the sunset with a girl (though, gosh, I can't think of an example right now). But butches can't. Charlize Theron died as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster" (of course). And now Hilary Swank dies as Maggie Fitzgerald in "Million Dollar Baby."
Critics are all atwitter about the "surprise ending" of MDB. It's no surprise to any lesbian. Swank's character seems to have no personal life to speak of. But gay or straight, she's a butch boxer, and must pay the price for rejecting femininity. This movie is filled with cliches, but always tacks on something extra to give each cliche a new dimension, an added bit of insight that will keep you glued to the screen. It's a great movie, well paced, lovely dialogue.
Disability activists will find offensive Swank's decision to give up her life: we can only rationalize that the decision is true to her character's personality, and hope for future flicks that refuse to romanticize paralysis, yet also offer a glimpse at a different choice.