Aside from Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman is one of my idols in Hollywood. He is a veteran actor and his films are classic. He is very versatile in his craft. There are a lot of films I liked that he starred but "The Bucket List" and "The Shawshank Redemption" are my favorites.
: General Profile
Morgan Freeman is born on June 1, 1937. He is an American actor, narrator, and director. He is deeply recognized by the audiences by portraying character roles through his distinctive deep voice. Through his talent, he has received many prestigious awards, particularly an Academy Award, Golden Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
He was born in Memphis, Tennessee but was raised in Mississippi where he started acting in school plays. He has appeared in stage productions during his early career and studied theatre arts in Los Angeles. He has established a name and became famous for his role in the children's television series "The Electric Company" in the 1970s. His breakout role in Street Smart in 1987, where he played as a hustler. As a result, he earned himself a nomination in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
From then on, he has achieved more awards and gain stardom in the films: Glory, a comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy, the biographical drama Lean on Me (which all released in 1989). After establishing his name in the film industry, more projects came in and allowed him to collaborate with iconic directors.
He starred along with Clint Eastwood in the film "Unforgiven" in 1992. This does not end the collaboration. They made 2 more collaborations in the films, "Million Dollar Baby" in 2004 and "Invictus" in 2009.
In 1994, He starred in the prison-drama "The Shawshank Redemption" by which he received another Academy Award nomination. In 1995, he starred in the crime-thriller Se7en directed by David Fincher. In 1997, he also starred in Steven Spielberg's historical drama "Amistad". He is also known for his prolific performances in "The Dark Knight Trilogy" (2005-2012) by Christopher Nolan.
Freeman is not only known for his talent and skills in acting, but he has also been directing. he directed the drama Bopha! in 1993. He even founded a film production company Revelations Entertainment together with his business partner, Lori McCreary.
: His Notable Films
1. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
Director and Writer: Frank Darabont. Starring Tim Robbins, James Whitmore, Bob Gunton.
The film is based on the short story of Stephen King "The Shawshank Redemption". The movie tells about the life story of two prisoners who found friendship in themselves and made an escape plan to the one who is wrongly accused. The film was nominated 7 times including Best Picture and the Best Actor for Morgan Freeman for his gentle narration throughout the film.
2. DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
Director: Bruce Beresford. Writer: Alfred Uhry. Starring Jessica Tandy, Dan Ackroyd, Patti LuPone.
Freeman has actually portrayed a role like this back when he was still on Broadway. He plays a chauffeur for an elderly woman who can no longer drive for herself. Along the way, the two became best friends and learned from each other's personalities. The film won 4 Oscars including Best Actress for Jessica Tandy and Best Picture.
3. MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004)
Director: Clint Eastwood. Writer: Paul Haggis. Starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Jay Baruchel.
The film talks about a young woman who desperately wants to achieve fame in boxing. Morgan Freeman plays one of those people who firmly believe in the potential of the woman (Hilary Swank). The film received 4 awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman, and Best Actress for Hilary Swank.
4. INVICTUS (2009)
Director: Clint Eastwood. Writer: Anthony Peckham. Starring Matt Damon, Leleti Khumalo, Julian Lewis Jones.
The film depicts how a soccer game changed the human race in the country that suffered after years of apartheid. Morgan Freeman received his 5th Oscar nomination for playing South African President Nelson Mandela.
5. SE7EN (1995)
Director: David Fincher. Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker. Starring Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey.
This film mainly adapts after the mega-success of "The Silence of The Lambs" about serial killing. This film features Morgan Freeman as a cop investigating a serial killer who kills a victim based on the 7 deadly sins from the Bible. He plays a cop who is about to retire his job while he is partnered with a cop who is new to his service (Brad Pitt).
6. THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY (2005, 2008, 2012)
Director: Christopher Nolan. Writers: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer, Jonathan Nolan. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neesen, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Anne Hathaway.
Morgan Freeman plays the one who helps Batman (played by Christian Bale) with his costumes and technical weapons.
7. GLORY (1989)
Director: Edward Zwick. Writer: Kevin Jarre. Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes.
This is a historical drama film sets during the civil war. Morgan Freeman portrays a Sergeant in the first all-black division of the Northern army. Denzel Washington received his first Oscar award for Best Supporting Actor.
8. AMISTAD (1997)
Director: Steven Spielberg. Writer: David Franzoni. Starring Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins.
Another classic film by Steven Spielberg where the film depicts a story of the trial of a group of slaves who took over the ship driving themselves to America. Morgan Freeman plays a supporting role as the assistant to the lawyer defending the Africans.
9. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
Director: Clint Eastwood. Writer: David Webb Peoples. Starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Richard Harris.
Another collaboration with Clint Eastwood who starred himself in the movie who revived the Western genre which got out of hand for a while. Morgan Freeman plays the role to be the best friend of the lead character who is a retired gunfighter. The films received 4 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman), and Best Director.
10. GONE BABY GONE (2007)
Director: Ben Affleck. Writers: Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard. Starring Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan.
This marked Ben Affleck of his film directorial debut. It talks about the kidnapping of Affleck's native Boston. Morgan Freeman plays the chief of police who investigates the disappearance.
11. RED (2010)
Director: Robert Schwentke. Writer: Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber. Starring Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren.
This is an action thriller film which was praised for starring casts who are a bit older than the characters' supposed age range usually seen in the films. Morgan Freeman plays as a mentor of Bruce Willis, a former CIA agent who's appointed back into a mission.
12. THE BUCKET LIST (2007)
Director: Rob Reiner. Writer: Justin Zackham. Starring Jack Nicholson, Sean Hayes, Rob Morrow.
This comedy-drama film talks about two men (Freeman and Nicholson) diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. They both decided to spend their remaining days doing the things they weren't able to do back in their younger days. The film popularized the term "bucket list" which is commonly used and be a part of an everyday vernacular.
13. DEEP IMPACT (1998)
Director: Mimi Leder. Writers: Bruce Joel Rubin, Michael Tolkin. Starring Robert Duvall, Tea Leoni, Elijah Wood.
Morgan Freeman plays the President of the United States of America who is very compassionate and authoritative to his people. He faces the predicament of telling the people about an asteroid that is about to destroy the country.
: Awards and Nominations
(1988) Street Smart - Best Supporting Actor - Nominated
(1990) Driving Miss Daisy - Best Actor - Nominated
(1995) The Shawshank Redemption - Best Actor - Nominated
(2005) Million Dollar Baby - Best Supporting Actor - WON
(2010) Invictus - Best Actor - Nominated
These are just the (Oscars) Academy Awards. I won't list the rest of the awards because you wouldn't care anyway. Haha
So which movie will you watch first?
Fun stuff. He is so solid. Love him in Shawshank. Great performances all around in that one.