THE PRINCESS THEATER: "MILLION DOLLAR BABY"

"MILLION DOLLAR BABY"

Clint Eastwood's film wasn't supposed to be released until 2005, but his decision to rush the release in late 2004 was a great move since it has put his cast into contention for several awards this year, including a couple for himself.

When I saw "Ray" late last year, I thought for sure that movie would ruin the Oscars because it would take all the awards, most anyway. I now must change my opinion and say that "Ray" might be sharing a few of those trophies with Eastwood's masterpiece. To say the least, "Aviator" will be left out in the cold after the vote tallies are in. The director of that film has been left out several times in the past--with great films--and I think this will be another year of sitting on the bench for this crew.

Eastwood has come a long way since his "Dirty Harry" days; his work here is bordering on genius as he rips your heart out through your throat and practically kills you in your seat with this story. Kleenex should be close at hand for this film. Guys, if you are not comfortable shedding tears with a gal at your side, then don't see this film with her. Go alone.

For a film shot mostly in a gym, about a girl boxer and a broken down trainer and cut man, to have this great an impact on an audience, well, go figure. Just go see this film, enjoy, and know you've had the pleasure of witnessing one of the greatest films produced in recent times.

This film has no shoot'em ups, no car chases, no sex, and no violence outside the boxing segments; it has only the raw emotion brought on by the relationships of the few that interact in this film. It's simple, dark, and powerful.

Eastwood will make your day.

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MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE OSCARS:

BEST PICTURE....MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

BEST DIRECTOR....CLINT EASTWOOD BEST ACTOR....TOSS UP...EITHER CLINT EASTWOOD OR JAMIE FOXX, BUT LEANING TOWARD EASTWOOD.

BEST ACTRESS....HILLARY SWANK

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR....MORGAN FREEMAN

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY....MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

UPDATE: Eastwood was on Jay Leno tonight promoting the movie. This guy is a class act, and funny, too. I have a Clint Eastwood story to tell, but will do it later after I locate a picture for it.

And, I saw "Ray" a second time and I'm now leaning towards Foxx for the Best Actor award. He is nothing short of great in this film. However, Eastwood is Foxx' only competition.

PHILLY TO CARMEL AND INBETWEEN

A few things are piling up on my list:

What's happening in the City of Brotherly Love? Twenty-One murders last week. Not feeling the love.

Ebbers guilty of all charges while not knowing what was going on in his company. Ken Lay must be sweating bullets.

Martha says the ankle device chaffes her and is uncomfortable. My advice for her is to avoid mentioning how uncomfortable her life is. Not a good idea.

Frank Rich was on Imus this morning. He's one of those guys that has yet to get over the past election, saying he is interested in what the NG docs had to say, nevermind they where forgeries. And possible Middle East peace is due, in large part, to Arafat dying. Frank, please.

Scott Peterson's life is about to completely go down the drain as he prepares to move into his new digs after sentencing later this morning. I really hope the judge reduces his sentence to life and lets him twist in the general population. He won't last long.

And finally, from Mission Ranch in Carmel, Clint Eastwood was on Hardball last night. I rarely watch HB, no need to explain, you've seen the viewer numbers, but I will say Chris was able to hold himself back and didn't make a fool of himself during the interview. Eastwood, as usual, was very good. He rarely does these type interviews. Chris asked him why he didn't pursue politics at a higher level after he was Mayor of Carmel: Eastwood simply said he liked to get things done. Well said.

CASHILL REVIEWS "LETTERS"

Clint Eastwood's new movie, "Letters From Iwo Jima," is about the battle for Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspective. It followed "Flags Of Our Fathers," which is from the American viewpoint.

Jack Cashill reviewed the film--"Letters From Iwo Jima"--and found the critics had missed something. In reviewing the battle, Cashill makes an interesting comparison to the war in Iraq.

Given the way the Japanese had previously defended beaches, U.S. planners worked under the presumption that the island would fall in five days. As in such warlike games as chess or football, however, real war allows each side to make intelligent decisions to advance its own interests.

Liberal critics of the Iraq war have overlooked this truism. They seem to have convinced themselves that all American failures result from "blunders" or "gross mismanagement" for which someone should "apologize." They give little credit to the opposing forces for resisting creatively and none at all to themselves for encouraging that resistance.

The struggle for Iwo Jima involved just such strategic thinking from a savvy adversary, which is why it proved so costly. Beginning Feb. 19, 1945, the five hellish weeks of Iwo Jima cost more than twice as many American lives as the four years of Iraq.

Still, as far as I know, there were no calls to bring our troops home "now" or to "redeploy" them to some safer place. The 7,000 Cindy Sheehans of Iwo Jima suffered in heroic silence.

I think you'll find the entire article very interesting. World Net Daily.

FLY THERE, DRIVE BACK

"Million Dollar Baby" is out in DVD now. However you choose to get it, buy or rent, just get it. Clint Eastwood is part of the Hollywood we used to know and love, so if you haven't seen this movie yet, I urge you to do so. It's his best work yet.

Prior to the Oscars, I posted my review of the movie and included my Oscar picks. Take a peek.