Advertisement

A quiet and inspiring screen hero

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

The Oscar-winning picture Million Dollar Baby is worthy of its golden statuette. But while many people focus on Maggie and her determination to pursue her dreams, I was more moved by Frankie.

Advertisement

Frankie is a tragic character. He is a good manager and trainer, and that he is a good friend to his fighters is proved by him helping Willy to buy his wife a car and advising Maggie to save money and invest in real estate.

Frankie also looked after his fighters in the ring by repeating his golden principle 'always protect yourself'. Unlike other greedy managers with their eyes only on the money, Frankie made sure that his fighters were properly trained and ready before allowing them to fight.

Frankie's ex-fighter and employee, Eddie, challenged Frankie for being too conservative with his fighters. But Frankie didn't want his boxers to end up like Eddie, who lost sight in one eye in a match he should have pulled out of.

Most of the boxers would be left with nothing if they could no longer fight - Maggie is an uneducated waitress from a trailer park who dreams of becoming a great boxer.

Advertisement

Frankie's golden rule was proved true when Maggie is caught unawares and paralysed in her championship fight.

loading
Advertisement