So let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Hollywood calls with the good news that yes, they’ve decided to make an epic documentary all about your life. So far, so good. In fact, they explain, it’s already been made – only one thing remains before it can open at your local cineplex. A narrator. Someone to do the voiceover throughout the story of your life. Oh, and Hollywood continues, the voice part is up to you. Who do you pick?
Who do you pick to narrate the story of your life? If you’re like me, you probably pick our next Favorite Movie Icon nominee: Morgan Freeman. Right? Doesn’t he make everything sound better? And wiser? And fairer?
When did you first become aware of the force that is Morgan Freeman? For me, it was all about The Electric Company, an educational TV show on PBS that ran during the 1970s. If you’re not familiar with it, The Electric Company was the more sophisticated program you were supposed to watch after you’d gone through the Sesame Street ranks and considered yourself too old for that cast and those Muppets. The Electric Company was looser, sketchier and it featured guys like Bill Cosby …and Morgan Freeman. With lots of cool songs. Thus, for all his amazing movie credits, Morgan Freeman was long-imbedded in the minds of countless people in their mid-forties thanks to Public Television - decades before he started hunting serial killers with Brad Pitt and driving Miss Daisy around.
With his incredibly soothing and measured voice that elicits almost instantaneous calm and comfort, it’s not surprising that a guy who helped a generation build their vocabulary would go on to play God. More than once.
Freeman won a Peoples Choice Awards in 2009 for The Dark Knight. He’s been nominated for five Oscars and he’s won one – for Million Dollar Baby. He’s already making the rounds of Lifetime Achievement Awards – and he’s still going very strong. It’s just been announced that he’s going to get some more major love at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. You know, with Ricky Gervais hosting. That’s right.Those Golden Globe Awards, thrown by the mysterious Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It’s one of my favorite shows because it’s usually funny and known for being informal and messy because everyone’s drunk and table hopping. Literally (it’s held in a hotel ballroom). BUT: does anyone remember how “deeply offended” everyone was by Ricky Gervais hosting and ridiculing people and getting in trouble? Does anyone remember the part where he probably wouldn’t be returning to that gig any time soon, if ever? Apparently the Hollywood Foreign Press Association doesn’t. Or, more likely, the HFPA’s public relations handlers realized but quick that the fastest way to get ratings besides being married for 72 days is to create a nasty scene, get in trouble and then revisit the crime the following year. It’s kind of smart, if you ask me, bringing Gervais back, because everyone is going to want to watch to see if he says something even more inflammatory. Nice going, HFPA. And that’s where millions and millions of eyes will be upon Morgan Freeman, honored yet again.
What’s your favorite Freeman film? There’s no doubt about it – his movies have made a fortune (The Dark Knight, Bruce Almighty and Batman Begins) but it’s probably his quieter, less blockbuster-ish films that have made him so incredibly beloved: The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, Invictus, and Glory. On the other hand, the fact that he can move seamlessly between giant popcorn movies and intelligent, thoughtful morality (& Dolphin) tales makes him even more of an amazing performer.
Morgan Freeman - actor’s actor, movie legend and probably the most in-demand narrator the world has ever known. Is he your favorite Movie Icon? Be sure to vote and let us know!
Today’s poll:
1) Driving Miss Daisy
2) The Shawshank Redemption
3) Glory
4) The Dark Knight
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What about the Bucket List????
HEYYYYYYY YOUUUUUUU GUYYYYYYYSSS!!!! Electric Company! I’ve been watching Morgan Freeman ever since!
Shawshank, Driving Miss Daisy. Simply a ‘natural’ pulling at the heartstrings isn’t he?
Mr. Freeman seemed effortless in Shawshank Redemption (which I’ve watch dozens of times!) and pretty cool in Driving Miss Daisy.
The Bucket List and Invictus — well, I guess I enjoy his participation.
Too many choices.
One of Mr Freeman earliest films Streetsmart, one of the best death scene in a movie to date.
Shawshank Redemption is definitely my favorite movies with Morgan Freeman. He is all around the best actor I have seen in any movie.
Shawshank is my favorite movie, period. The narration was so fantastic, beautifully understated, believable.
Lean On Me! By far, the Best!
Lean on Me!
I didn’t see “Lean On Me” on the list ! That was my favorite with “Driving Miss Daisy” coming in second.
If the Tea party are not a bunch of racists-then why at every gathering everyone is lily White and some holding up pictures of Obama as a monkey ? I’ve seen this in person and have photos. It made me sick to my stomach.
In my opinion- The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best movies ever made and Morgans narration alone should’ve won an Oscar. There is no way that a movie like The Bucket List comes close to Shawshank.What’s wrong with you people ?
The Bucket List. Mr. Freeman is probably not a racist, but since he is from Mississippi, I wouldn’t blame him if
he is. It’s too bad the only forum we have is political, even in our movies. There are volumes and volumes of things that have been written and could be written about curing the ills of humanity. But, alas, nobody is reading or listening. So, the only thing left for humans to do is, “Go to the movies”. Is it an escape? I don’t think so.
Without any doubt, the Shawshank Redemption and the bucket list. But I agree with anybody that says all of his films is seeworthy.
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Two of my favorite movies ever…….Seven & Shawshank Redemption (Honorable mention: The Power of One)
March of the peguins.
Bruce Almighty
Evan Almighty
The Dark Knight
are my top favorite movie’s starring
Morgan Freeman
How can anyone choose a favorite M.F. movie? He’s fantastic in all of them. He’s my favorite star, period. But I guess Shawshank Redemption was pretty amazing. He’s always brilliant. But I also agree with Charles – that was very disappointing. I’m a Tea Partier too and I don’t know any who are prejudice. Hard to understand. It’s about the constitution and having no respect for taxpayer dollars.
I loved Driving Ms. Daisy and the BucketList.
really Charles Clark … the question was best film….not what you think of him…. Shawshank Redemption… best by far…
None of the above. His best movie was called “The Power of One” where he played a prisoner in South Africa who befriends an orphaned young boy during apartheid.
The first film I saw was Driving Miss Daisy; and I still think it is his best work
Shawshank Redemption. Hands down one of the best movies ever!
I lost all respect for Morgan Freeman when he called the Tea Party a bunch of racists. It seems in doing so he has implicated himself as a racist instead. He calls names that clearly do not fit because they don’t agree with his preference for president. This as well as other prejudiced remarks made by other well known people in the media have made it that much easier to fully support the Tea Party.