MovieChat Forums > Million Dollar Baby (2005) Discussion > Regarding the ending (spoilers)

Regarding the ending (spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by OJTheViking
5 replies | jump to latest

I've seen some threads here that complain about the ending, that it was sad for the sake of being sad, etc. To me that's perfectly fine, to be honest, some stories in real life have sad endings, that's just the way it is. But my concerns are with what message the movie is trying to convey, and with the logic of Maggie's story arc.

I don't mind that she got injured. I don't even mind that they started developing the storyline where Maggie was giving up and wanted to die. But what was unfortunate in my eyes, is the fact that Maggie persisted in wanting to die, and Frankie eventually respected her wishes.

Now, don't get me wrong; that's a sad and dark theme that I would have accepted in other types of movies. I've even seen other movies where the main character wants to die, for reasons that make sense. But Million Dollar Baby could have conveyed a whole different message.

It felt illogical for her to give up like that. She was a stubborn fighter who went against the grain no matter what, even despite her own horrible family. And I get that in the end, her family's lack of support is what seemed to push her over the edge and give up in the end. But she could have kept fighting even then, and Frankie could have coached her through a whole different kind of fighting.

As for the message ... it's rather unfortunate that a movie such as this ended up giving the impression that if you're permanently disabled, you might as well just end it all. Some people are born with disabilities, others become disabled through accidents and illnesses etc. Do you really want a movie to tell all those people that they should just give up? Or could the movie instead have told us that no matter what happens to us, we should keep fighting?

It's simple, to quote Rocky Balboa: "It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward." I can even quote an actual line from this movie, said by Scrap: "Boxing is an unnatural act. [...] Instead of running away from the pain - like a sane person would - you run into it."

Use boxing as a metaphor for life, and Maggie could have done the same thing by the end of the movie; she could have stepped into the "pain" of learning how to live with a major disability.

With that said, if they really wanted a truly sad ending, they could have come up with some other reason why she died anyway. Think about the quote where she mentioned her father: "Daddy used to tell me I fought my way into this world, and I'd fight my way out"... Yeah, well, she didn't fight, she gave up, so she pretty much missed the point of that quote. So yeah, I'd accept an ending where she still ended up dying, but it would have been so much better if she accepted her disabilities along the way and actually did fight until the end.

I get that they also told a parallel story regarding Frankie and his daughter. You might say that when he decided to help Maggie die, that was a metaphor for him giving up on his own daughter. He pretty much left it all behind afterwards, and one gets the impression that he would no longer write her any letters. Well, that's also sad, but it also misses the mark a bit with what message this storyline could convey. He obviously failed as a father. But he became Maggie's father figure, and his own spirits were raised when he started training her, as if he had gained a new, different kind of daughter. But then he gives up on her too? Once again, the idea of stepping into the pain and keep fighting could have been used here, by him coaching her back to life despite her disabilities, and simultaneously, that would have been his way of not failing his new daughter.

In short, it's a movie that has many great moments throughout, but the ending in some ways was a disappointment. I gave it an above average score due to the overall quality of the movie and the story, but it would have been near perfect had they kept these things in mind, and conveyed a message that you should keep fighting no matter what.

Heck, there was even a poster on the wall in the gym that said "Winners are simply willing to do what losers won't." So, okay then, she wasn't willing to keep fighting? She died a loser, then? I just felt like the final message of the movie was a bit faulty with these things in mind.

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[–] AndrewGS 8 years ago

As for the message ... it's rather unfortunate that a movie such as this ended up giving the impression that if you're permanently disabled, you might as well just end it all. Some people are born with disabilities, others become disabled through accidents and illnesses etc. Do you really want a movie to tell all those people that they should just give up?

I don't think that was the intended message or necessarily the most likely impression to take from it. But it did try to make understandable why some people would feel that way.

Or could the movie instead have told us that no matter what happens to us, we should keep fighting?

It could have, and I think Eastwood's character believed that, and absolutely would have helped her live with the disability (he never gives up on her), but it instead emphasized that people who love someone should respect their wishes and, despite the personal costs, help them to fulfill them at least or especially when they were as strong as Maggie's were.

It's simple, to quote Rocky Balboa: "It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward." I can even quote an actual line from this movie, said by Scrap: "Boxing is an unnatural act. [...] Instead of running away from the pain - like a sane person would - you run into it."

Use boxing as a metaphor for life, and Maggie could have done the same thing by the end of the movie; she could have stepped into the "pain" of learning how to live with a major disability.

She could have but this movie (one of the reasons it's so good) felt ambivalent, pretty critical although generally affectionate and supportive of boxing (like it was a terrible thing even though some people loved it and it gave them both personal and financial rewards) so it makes sense that in dealing with the aftermath of a boxing career it would also be ambivalent.

Heck, there was even a poster on the wall in the gym that said "Winners are simply willing to do what losers won't." So, okay then, she wasn't willing to keep fighting? She died a loser, then?

The movie generally, especially its ending, felt critical of that sort of slogan thinking (although "Tough ain't enough" was both an ironic and profound expression). Maggie fought and won but didn't want to and felt she couldn't fight anymore. Her mother declaring and emphasizing that she lost the fight repulses Maggie. Frankie jokingly insisting he won't tell her the meaning of the nickname is meant to be absurd and he ultimately does tell her.

[–] chilone (18067) 6 years ago

If I were her, I'd want to die too.

[–] Wuchak (8837) 6 years ago

I agree with the OP. The first two-thirds of the movie is all about facing great challenges with a fighting spirit that perseveres and overcomes.

The third act, however, takes a left turn that is seriously downbeat. It departs from sports movie formula with a message that contradicts everything the first two acts pushed, which is inexplicable. Sure, I ‘get’ the point: Frankie basically sacrifices everything -- the rest of his life, at least -- to do what’s (supposedly) best for the sad situation and honor the will of Maggie, his dearly loved spiritual daughter. Nevertheless, this is a dark turn that leaves a sour taste because it refutes the positive message of the first two-thirds of the story.

Plus it was just an odd and awkward decision to steer a moving sports drama in a decidedly pro-euthanasia direction. Seriously?

[–] Fandango (534) 4 years ago

I realize this is an old post and you may likely never see it, but I wanted to say I enjoyed your insights.

After recently watching this film, I couldn't help but be reminded of some of the patients I've had to work with, who have been in comparable situations to Maggie. From my experience, I will tell you that those who are able to retain some semblance of resilience often have extremely strong support networks. They have people with them nearly all of the time, which helps keep their mind off their unfortunate situations. Furthermore, a large percentage of individuals in such situations tend to be on a lot of medication, including anti-depressants and/or pain killers. That said, even those with these factors favoring them often times are depressed. There is no way to be complete when you lose agency, especially in a world where self-efficacy is taught to be all we have.

If we look at how unfulfilled the average individual is, who has nowhere near the same difficulties as someone like Maggie, it is certainly no surprise that the will to live dies when confronted with such extreme circumstances.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

OP, much too long to read. I wouldn’t follow you onto a life raft on a sinking ship, let alone anywhere else.