Eastwoods Million Dollar Baby is Best Picture of 2005

Clint Eastwood’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’ has been named the Best Picture of 2004 by the National Society of Film Critics in the US.

Hilary Swank, who stars opposite Eastwood and Morgan Freeman in the film, shared the Best Actress honor with ‘Vera Drake’ star Imelda Staunton.

Fifty-six newspaper and film critics gathered in New York city’s Sardi’s Restaurant to announced the winners, which included another gong for Jamie Foxx’s uncanny performance as Ray Charles in biopic Ray.

Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou was named Best Director for martial arts movies House of the Flying Daggers and Hero, while Ousmane Sembene picked up Best Foreign Language Film for Moolaade - a drama about female circumc ision in Africa.

More about Million Dollar Baby:
In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, boxing trainer Frankie Dunn has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a very long time–then Maggie Fitzgerald walks into his gym.

In a life of constant struggle, Maggie’s gotten herself this far on raw talent, unshakable focus and a tremendous force of will. But more than anything, she wants someone to believe in her.

The last thing Frankie needs is that kind of responsibility– let alone that kind of risk–but won over by Maggie’s sheer determination, he begrudgingly agrees to take her on. In turns exasperating and inspiring each other, the two come to discover that they share a common spirit that transcends the pain and loss of their pasts, and they find in each other a sense of family they lost long ago.

Yet, they both face a battle that will demand more heart and courage than any they’ve ever known.