Morgan Freeman’s top five performances –

(5)

Vanished Baby Road (2007)

In Ben Affleck’s painfully forgotten (and absolutely fantastic) directorial debut, a phenomenal Freeman portrays Boston detective Jack Doyle with an authority and poise that, as a viewer, made me believe every word he said, every gesture. In a film teeming with great acting, not least from Affleck’s younger brother who plays the lead role, Freeman is at his best.

(4)

Million-dollar baby (2004)

There really is no male actor in the history of cinema who can tell stories and build atmosphere and empathy through his voice alone – as Morgan Freeman can. He already proved this with great clarity in Shawshank and then in Million Dollar Baby, where he does brilliant work as the former boxer Eddie Dupris in addition to voice-over.

(3)

Not forgiving (1992)

Eastwood’s deconstruction of the American Western in the timelessly fantastic Unforgiven would obviously not have worked so well had Hackman and Freeman not made some of the best interpretations of their respective careers.

(2)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Retribution, guilt, forgiveness, acceptance. Frank Darabont does wonders with King’s basic story in this immortal super-classic, and although Tim Robbins is absolutely brilliant in the lead role, it is Freeman as his calm, methodical and intelligent best friend who steals the show. Freeman’s narration makes up half of the film.

FREEMAN’S BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE:

(1)

Seven (1995)

There is usually so much substance in Freeman’s characters, even though it may not really look like it in the script. Of course, if you read Seven in script form, it’s clear early on that it’s a well-written story with well-developed characters and a fantastic twist, but Morgan Freeman’s struggling New York detective Somerset lacks the substance he gets in the film, which is all about brilliant acting (and certainly brilliant character direction drawn by a Fincher on top form). I have no doubt that this is Morgan Freeman’s finest hour as an actor.