(Credits: Far Out / Nathan Congleton)
Among the most revered acting legends within the global cinematic landscape, Morgan Freeman has achieved almost everything there is to achieve. His position as one of the global figures of Hollywood, as revered for his compassionate nature as his beguiling narration, Freeman’s place in the history books of cinema is confirmed.
With vastly different roles across multiple decades, Freeman has worked with some of the best filmmakers in the business while establishing his dominance in the industry. Including projects directed by the likes of David Fincher and Christopher Nolan, Freeman’s resumé is stacked with gems.
While fans can almost never reach a consensus about their favourite Morgan Freeman movies, the actor has his own preferences when it comes to his career. During a conversation with Fox, he was asked about movies from his own journey as an artist that left a lasting impression on him and helped him develop his craft. Freeman was unhesitant about the selection of his personal favourites, leaving out some notable films in the process.
Although most people expected him to begin with The Shawshank Redemption, Freeman clarified that the production wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience for him. He left the movie off the list, explaining: “I’m sorry, it’s everybody else’s favourite, not necessarily mine… I know everybody loves it and I’m very happy that everybody loves it. I made it. It was a day-to-day thing of shooting it.”
Million Dollar Baby might have won Freeman an Oscar, but he has a different top pick when it comes to his Clint Eastwood collaborations. Citing his role as Nelson Mandela in Invictus, he said: “Well, it wasn’t necessarily this project, but I felt destined to do something about Mandela. I don’t know whether you know that in 1992, when he published his autobiography, he was asked who he would want to play him, if the book ever became a movie. And he named me. So, I was sort of the chosen one, as it were.”
Morgan Freeman (Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Even though it flopped at the box office, Street Smart will always be a special project for Freeman, who earned an Oscar nomination for his fantastic performance. He once revealed: “I went as about as far away from me as I could get in terms of acting… Everything else — you know — you pull something out of you. Not that I wasn’t pulling stuff out of me in terms of my action with the ladies, but to me, it was more alien to who I really am.”
While some fans might be surprised by the absence of major projects, one understandable selection is Bruce Beresford’s 1989 movie Driving Miss Daisy. Although it has been routinely criticised for the way it approaches the subject of racism, Driving Miss Daisy proved to be a pivotal project for Freeman, who received unprecedented global acclaim for his role.
Freeman also included the 1989 war movie Glory, especially because it highlights an often neglected chapter from the American Civil War. The actor noted: “Very few people knew about the 54th [Massachusetts] infantry or any Black involvement in the Civil War. It was one of the best things I did… That information was totally hidden from the world at large.”
The list of work created by Morgan Freeman is one of the most extensive resumes in all of Hollywood. Most actors would kill to have been a part of any single one of these pictures. However, Freeman has his name attached to them all. It makes for two things. Firstly, a very sizable reminder of Freeman’s contribution to culture and, secondly, an incredible watch list for anyone who hasn’t yet had the pleasure of sitting down to watch them.
Morgan Freeman’s favourite movies:
- Invictus (Clint Eastwood, 2009)
- Glory (Edward Zwick, 1989)
- Street Smart (Jerry Schatzberg, 1987)
- Lean on Me (John G. Avildsen, 1989)
- Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford, 1989)
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