No.044　《Million Dollar Baby》　百万美元宝贝　为了梦想赌上一切

英文导读

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 sports drama film directed, co-produced, and scored by Clint Eastwood and starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman.

Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it; his daughter never answers his letters, and a fighter he's groomed into contender status has paid him back by signing with another manager, leaving Frankie high and dry. His best friend and faithful employee Eddie Dupris is a former fighter who Frankie trained. In his last fight, Eddie suffered a severe injury, a fact that brings Frankie great guilt. One day, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) enters Frankie's life, as well as his gym, and announces she needs a trainer. Frankie regards her as a dubious prospect, and isn't afraid to tell her why: he doesn't think much of women boxing, she's too old at 31, she lacks experience, and has no technique. However, Maggie sees boxing as the one part of her life that gives her meaning and won't give up easily. Finally won over by her determination, Frankie takes on Maggie, and as she slowly grows into a viable fighter, an emotional bond develops between them. When a tragedy befalls one of the three characters, each comes to a decision that shows how the relationships in the film have changed them. Adapted from a short story by F.X. Toole, a former corner man with years of experience in the fight game, Million Dollar Baby also stars Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie, and Mike Colter.

The film received critical acclaim; Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film four stars and stated that "Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece, pure and simple," listing it as the best film of 2004. Michael Medved stated: "My main objection to Million Dollar Baby always centered on its misleading marketing, and effort by Warner Brothers to sell it as a movie about a female Rocky, with barely a hint of the pitch-dark substance that led Andrew Sarris of the New York Observer to declare that 'no movie in my memory has depressed me more than Million Dollar Baby.'"

Million Dollar Baby received the award for Best Picture of 2004 at the 77th Academy Awards. Clint Eastwood was awarded his second Best Director Oscar for the film and also received a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination. Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman received Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscars, respectively. Joel Cox, Eastwood's editor for many years, was nominated for Best Film Editing, and Paul Haggis was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay award.

The film was also nominated for and won a number of Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and the Directors Guild Award.

获奖情况

2005年第77届奥斯卡：最佳影片、最佳导演、最佳女主角、最佳男配角奖。

影片信息

导演：克林特·伊斯特伍德

编剧：F.X.图尔、保罗·哈吉斯

主演：克林特·伊斯特伍德、希拉里·斯万克、摩根·弗里曼、杰伊·巴鲁切尔

类型：剧情、运动

制片国家（地区）：美国

上映日期：2004-12-15（美国）

片长：132分钟

又名：《百万宝贝》《百万金婴》《登峰造击》《击情》

剧情简介

年纪老迈的拳击教练法兰基·邓恩（克林特·伊斯特伍德饰）几乎将自己的一生都献给了拳击事业，很多叱咤拳坛的拳手都曾得益于他的点拨。在他的生命中，最重要的莫过于永无休止的拳击课程和细致严谨的拳击理论。而他的这些理论中最重要的一条便是：保护自己永远是第一位的。

对事业过分执着令法兰基同女儿的关系形同路人，同时这也成为老人心中挥之不去的阴影。很久以来，他都过着极度自闭的生活。法兰基唯一的朋友斯凯普（摩根·弗里曼饰）也曾是一名拳击手。在过去的23年里，他们每天从事的几乎都是相同的工作。斯凯普除了打理法兰基的拳馆之外，还是最了解他的人。只有他知道，法兰基在他那坚硬冷酷的外表下，那颗火热的心一直都期待着宽恕和救赎。

玛吉·菲茨杰拉德（希拉里·斯万克）是一个意志坚定的女人，非常喜欢拳击。她了解自己的目标并知道如何去实现。于是，她走进训练馆，请求法兰基收为门徒。玛吉出现的那一刻，两位主人公的命运也开始悄然逆转……

训练中的朝夕相处，加之彼此以往遭遇的相互启迪，令师徒二人越发默契。在追寻梦想超越自我的过程中，他们一起找到了医治往日伤痛的良方。更令二人感到无比欣慰的是，他们在对方的身上找到了久违的如亲人一般的归属感。在这场伦理与勇气的斗争中，不会再有失败和痛苦的记忆。

制作花絮

片中弗兰基的拳击馆是在美国洛杉矶的一间闲置仓库中搭建的。

希拉里·斯万克在受训期间增重9千克。

本片是伊斯特伍德执导的第25部电影，是他出演的第57部电影，是他制作的第21部电影。

全片拍摄仅耗时37天。

重点学习

Who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it

文中的devote…to是英语中常用的一个固定搭配，在文中它是“把…献给，专心致力于”的意思，比如：I devote myself heart and soul to the arduous task.（我全心全意地致力于这项艰巨的任务。）另外，它还有“把…用于”的意思，比如：She has devoted all her time to helping the sick.（她把所有时间用于照顾病人。）

Frankie takes on Maggie

Take on是英语中很常用的一个固定搭配，它词义丰富，最常见的意思是“披上，穿上，戴上；呈现（面貌等）；具有（某种性质、特征等）”，比如：The old term has taken on a new meaning.（这个旧词有了新的含义。）另外一个最常见的意思是“开始做，开始执行，开始处理；承担（责任等）；担任（工作）”，比如：He took on the responsibility for collecting evidence for the trial.（他负责为审判搜集证据。）在文中是“担任”的意思。它还可以用于口语中，是“（因发怒等）激动；大惊小怪；发作；悲伤”的意思，比如：He took on about it.（他对那件事大惊小怪。）在文中，take on是“（开始）雇用；在某种关系中接受；接纳”的意思。

单词时间

veteran[ˈvetərən] adj. 经验丰富的；老兵的

contender[kənˈtendə] n. 竞争者；争夺者

severe[siˈviə] adj. 严峻的；严厉的；剧烈的；苛刻的

dubious[ˈdju:bjəs] adj. 可疑的；暧昧的；无把握的；半信半疑的

prospect[ˈprɔspekt] n. 前途；预期；景色

determination[diˌtə:miˈneiʃən] n. 决心；果断

viable[ˈvaiəbl] adj. 可行的；能养活的；能生育的

misleading[ˌmisˈli:diŋ] adj. 令人误解的；引入歧途的

substance[ˈsʌbstəns] n. 物质；实质；资产；主旨