by This masterpiece by Clint Eastwood, crowned with 4 Oscars, almost never saw the light of the reluctance of the Warner studio in front of its subject deemed too depressing. Back on the genesis of “Million Dollar Baby”.
Among Clint Eastwood's most striking films, Million Dollar Baby stands out as one of his greatest successes. This overwhelming drama not only won the public, but also won 4 Oscars, including those for the best film and the best actress for Hilary Swank. In France, the feature film is even the second biggest success in Eastwood's career, with more than 3.16 million spectators, just behind Gran Torino which attracted 3.4 million. However, its realization was not a long quiet river: the Warner studio first hesitated to support the project, finding it too dark and depressing.
In 1995, on the road to Madison already marked a turning point in Eastwood's career. Far from his image as an icon of western and action cinema, he revealed a more fragile and emotional facet of himself, in this melodrama which touched the hearts of spectators. Ten years later, it's in Million Dollar Baby that we found an eastwood upset, in a role of coach on the edge of despair, alongside the talented Hilary Swank And the great Morgan Freeman of course.
Attention spoilers! This article reveals the end of “Million Dollar Baby” (2004). If you have not yet seen the film and prefer to keep the surprise intact, it is best not to read the rest of this article.
The film, of rare emotional power, told the poignant story of Maggie Fitzgerald, a boxer ready to do anything to reach her dreams, but who finds herself in front of a tragic fate. At the end of the feature film, Maggie became quadriplegic after a fight. Under an artificial respirator and unable to eat, she asks her coach, in an unbearable act of pain, to euthanize to put an end to his sufferings, a conclusion that remains engraved in memories.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The studio doubts
But it was not only the public that was shaken by the film: within Warner, the production of the film was not obvious. Alan Horn, then CEO of the studio, said in an interview at the Hollywood Reporter in 2011 that he had first had doubts about the project.
“” “Clint came to see me, in his own way, that is to say discreetly. He had no one had anyone. I read [le script] And I said to myself: 'I don't feel it'. I thought, 'I don't know if women want to see a woman fighting.'»
Indeed, although films like Girlfight opened the way a few years earlier, the idea of a woman at the heart of a sporting drama was still unusual at the time.
Warner Bros. Pictures
However, with Horn's blessing, Eastwood decided to seek other financial partners. He concluded an agreement with Lakeshore Entertainment, which agreed to co -produce the film up to 50%, with a relatively modest budget of $ 30 million. This partnership allowed Warner to return to the negotiating table, but Horn, concerned about the tone of the film, asked Eastwood to review certain aspects, including the harshness of the third act.
“” “I said [à Clint Eastwood] : 'I'm not saying no.' The film killed me. I said, 'Should she die at the end?' Clint said, 'I'm afraid.' I said, 'Does she really have to eat her tongue?' He said, 'This is the way we have to follow.' I said, 'Should she really lose the fight?' But it finally shows that William Goldman [NDLR : scénariste deux fois oscarisé pour Butch Cassidy et le Kid et Les Hommes du président] was right: 'in Hollywood, nobody knows anything about anything.'»
Finally, the perseverance of Clint Eastwood And his artistic vision proved to be paid. The film, despite its dark themes and its tragic outcome, remained faithful to its emotional power – which led to its success. Twenty -one years after its release, Million Dollar Baby continues to impress and its impact has not weakened, proving that sometimes you have to listen to the artist, even when he chooses a difficult path.
Million Dollar Baby is available in streaming on Netflix and Canal+.
