Clint Eastwood returns to the big screen as producer, director and most notably as lead actor in this authentic and gripping boxing story. Written by writer Paul Haggis based on the writings of veteran fight trainer Jerry Boyd.

Eastwood plays Frankie, a complex and guarded owner of a small time gym where he trains fighters from time to time. He attends mass every day to deal with his guilt from the estrangement from his daughter (the reason for which is never revealed).

Best friend and ex-boxer Eddie 'Scrap-Iron' Dupris (played by Morgan Freeman who also narrates the story) manages the gym and was once one of Frankie's boxers until he lost an eye in his last and 109th fight. Still determined that Frankie should have stopped Eddie at his 108th, he trains boxers with career stifling over-caution.

Along comes tenacious and dynamic 31-year old hillbilly Maggie to the gym. She's been waitressing since forever and has boxing as her only reason for being. Her persistence pays off with Frankie, as he finally agrees to train her even though she's a girl. Oscar winner Hilary Swank works her magic with this headstrong, gutsy character. Her relentless determination not only takes her to the title championship but also creates a fervent father-daughter bond with Frankie. However, a sudden dark turn in the movie abruptly throws you far from the fairy tale beginning.