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Million Dollar Can of Worms

 This past weekend I finally had the opportunity to take in *Clint Eastwood's* Oscar-winning _"Million Dollar Baby"_ ("Link":http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405159/). Now many of you might have seen this movie when it was released around Christmas. I know many people lauded the film with their praise, and many of these praises came from fellow Christians. I'm not insinuating that a Christian can't enjoy or praise a film, but we must not mindlessly accept a movie simply for what it is. We must inevitably filter it through our worldview and foundational beliefs. And within this vantage point, _"Million Dollar Baby"_ falters tremendously. Considering the overall story, it is very much an engaging film about a gritty woman seeking to pursue something she loves. "Hilary Swank's":http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005476/ Oscar-winning performance truly is moving. You feel every bump, setback, and accomplishment with her. This is no accident though, because having traveled with her thus far, the movie attempts to continue your support even through the film's dark ending moments. While "Cinderella Man":http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352248/ invites you to finish applauding Jim Braddock's story of hope and encouragement; _"Million Dollar Baby's"_ object seemingly is for you to grant Maggie Fritzgerald's ("Swank":http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005476/) request of assisted suicide. Let's not mince words here for _"Million Dollar Baby"_ does strive for the audience to feel as if the choice Maggie and Frankie make are completely justifiable and inevitable. I know. I felt it at first. At that's why this movie can be dangerous. Maybe 6 months ago I wouldn't have thought much about the film, but living in the post-Schiavo world we do -- the question of what's considered 'fair', 'loving', or 'caring' continues to blur. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this because frankly it's a tough decision -- and that's exactly how the film wants you to feel. If you say it's alright, you're killing a person. If you're against it, you feel like an ass somehow. Yet an emotional response does not negate what one must do. This is a complicated issue which tends to blur to grey rather than become more clear cut. I guess Jars of Clay said it best when they sang, "If ignorance is bliss then won't you save me from myself." The problem is this issue isn't going to fade away anytime soon. It's one that will only mount further in the future. And eventually we all will have to make a decision of on what side we fall. Until then, we have to wrestle through complex issues of life, death, and if we truly have a choice in the beginning and end at all. So while the story starts out well enough, the ultimate destination of this movie justifying assisted suicide makes it one left holding open a can of worms. *Rating: 72%*
Joshua Hynes

Posted by Joshua Hynes

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 12:48pm. It has been filed under Reviews, Movies, Joshua, Spiritual.

Comments

Finally! 18 loving people have cared enough to share their thoughts with me. Why don't you join the party?

  1. Yea, this was an incredible movie that did leave you pondering what Clint should have done in that situation.  It also is hard being in his position because he deeply loves and care for her, and her body is decaying right before their eyes.  Everything is happening to her and she has no choice in the matter.  Life is hopeless and, in her viewpoint, there is nowhere else to look for hope.  I can understand why people would want their life to end then, but that doesn’t mean I condone it or would want it for myself.

    Bradley Spitzer wrote on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 3:15pm.

  2. I don’t think there is a strictly “christian” way to come down on this issue.  I for one would want Clint to kill me.  And I told my wife that I hope I’d have the balls to do what he did if it were her in the bed.

    J Andrew Taylor wrote on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 4:19pm.

  3. See I understand your point, but then I just look at someone like Joni Eareckson Tada and I wonder if the hopelessness we find in those situations is because we haven’t turned it over to the Lord or looked at from His perspective.

    Joshua Hynes wrote on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 8:28pm.

  4. That is a hard decision to make ultimately because no one ever wants to be in a situation like that. I don’t know what I would do in that situation but I hope no one judges me even though I am pretty sure that will happen. I just remember all the press the Schiavo story got.

    kristina wrote on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 8:43pm.

  5. Having filtered this movie through both my worldview and foundational beliefs (I agree that this is very important), as a Christian I still believe that this is one of the best movies I saw this year.

    I agree that assisted suicide is wrong (the Schiavo case was not suicide in my opinion… but that is another discussion). And as Christians I feel we have a responsibility to not justify or explain away sin due to situation or context.

    I don’t feel, however, that this film tried to sway the viewer in any way toward one position or another. Clint Eastwood’s character ultimately made the decision he did because that is what his character would have done in that position. I think that and that alone is the point… yes, it made me think about what I would do in that situation but ultimately I didn’t feel “pressured” to change my beliefs about what is right and wrong and ultimately I ‘m not sure the film let’s Eastwood’s character off-the-hook for it either.

    Wes Childers wrote on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 2:16pm.

  6. One question...no offense intended to anyone, so don’t take any.

    Is it absolutely necessary for us, as christians, to filter everything around us through our “beliefs” or “worldview”?  Is there ever a time where we can just chill and enjoy something without wondering what the director’s motives and beliefs are?

    J Andrew Taylor wrote on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 3:35pm.

  7. I would say yes, and my reason for saying so is two-fold. One is everything we engage within, everything we confront has an agenda. Everything comes from some worldview and accepting it as it is can mislead and misdirect us at times. Two is we’ve been commanded by God to train up our body, soul, and *mind*. Countless times within the NT Paul encouraged his fellow believers to be on guard against false teachings—and not everything that’s a false teaching or prophecy comes in a package blinking red “Avoid Me!” It also comes in subtle items such as stories, books, music, and movies. It comes through in subtle messages and agendas. It comes glossy, wrapped neatly, and seemingly correct many times—yet it’s still wrong.

    Dropping our guard to a director’s motives or beliefs doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy something they produce, but we will temper our praise for something because we know—ultimately—the director is subtly propogating a belief they hold which we do not agree with.

    Joshua Hynes wrote on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 3:48pm.

  8. I hired Clint to paint my living room and the bastard wrote “Make euthanasia legal!” on the wall.

    Seth wrote on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 8:46am.

  9. So I guess The Aristocrats is out of the question.

    J Andrew Taylor wrote on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 9:14am.

  10. Well I’m not sure what you mean there Jacob. I’m not saying you can watch certain films and not others. All I’m supporting is that everything we take in, we have to filter it. I’m not about to tell you which music, books, or films you can or cannot partake in. That’s your decision. I’m just suggesting that you don’t check your worldview at the front door, because the director hasn’t. That’s all.

    And Seth’s comment = quote of the day.

    Joshua Hynes wrote on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 9:20am.

  11. Seth is my favorite person in the world.

    ZNB wrote on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 9:29pm.

  12. Hello guys!
    This is no accident though, because having traveled with her thus far, the movie attempts to continue your support even through the film’s dark ending moments..

    personal injury lawyer houston wrote on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 5:51am.

  13. Hello guys!
    This is no accident though, because having traveled with her thus far, the movie attempts to continue your support even through the film’s dark ending moments.. Good article,Keep up the good work..personal injury lawyer houston

    personal injury lawyer houston wrote on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 5:52am.

  14. with the kind of review you have given, i am happy that i havent watched the movie!

    Internet Marketing forum wrote on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 6:59am.

  15. ha ha! i agree with you, thanx god i didnt watch it either!
    Vin
    Florida Medical Acupuncturist

    clubvin wrote on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6:44am.

  16. but i would suggest you to watch it once, i am sure you will like it… he he

    Same day courier wrote on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 3:22am.

  17. but i would suggest you to watch it once, i am sure you will like it… he he

    Same day courier wrote on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 3:22am.

  18. but i would suggest you to watch it once, i am sure you will like it… he he
    Same day Courier

    rovan wrote on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 3:24am.

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