It starts as a comedy of frustration Hillary Swank plays an aspiring but no more than promising female boxer proceeds to triumph she gets her title shot and ends in an unexpected tragedy. Director Clint Eastwood plays her manager, Morgan Freeman her corner man, and both match Swank's unimprovable performance. Some artists, as they age, strip their work down to a few very powerful essentials austerity of means, direct and potent emotional honesty and Eastwood here joins that rare company.
Come fly with us, and Leo, through the best (and worst) of 2004. Tops in the cinema this year include Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator. Elsewhere, Deadwood was good TV, and a Strange tale fascinated readers.