The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Mr. Morgan Freeman

In light of the releases of Wanted and The Dark Knight (movie reviews on the way!), let us pay homage to a Hollywood sage, the voice from the heavens, Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. He was a Moor (Robin Hood Prince of Thieves), a mob boss (Lucky Number Slevin), a cancer patient (The Bucket List), a weapons specialist (Batman Begins), a boxing trainer (Million Dollar Baby), the President (Deep Impact) and the Alpha and the Omega (Bruce Almighty). Shame on Phil Alden Robinson for killing Freeman off in Sum of All Fears, but kudos to Edward Zwick for casting him in Glory, a film released in what is arguably the most successful year of Freeman's career (1989, the year of Glory, Driving Miss Daisy, and Lean on Me). Morgan Freeman could take over the world in lieu of his many cinematic conquests, a reign that poignantly began with his role as 'Man on the Street' in 1964's Pawnbroker. Without further ado, five films that fortified Morgan Freeman's career.



5. Driving Miss Daisy

The film that earned Freeman his first Academy Award nomination in a leading role. Throughout the course of his career, Freeman has been noted for the chemistry he develops with his on-screen colleagues, his performance with Jessica Tandy being no exception to his vaunted repertoire. Despite not winning the Oscar (that pesky Daniel Day-Lewis, starring in My Left Foot, is a fine actor in his own right), Freeman would go on to be nominated for two more Oscars beyond 1990 (Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby, the latter of which he won as a 'we finally have to give this guy credit' distinction of pity).



4. March of the Penguins

Face it: in biology class, penguin migration would have been the last topic you'd wish to write about, outside of glacial shift patterns and polar bear mating behavior. Morgan Freeman, lending his sonorous voice to the documentary March of the Penguins, took a topic that was seemingly lackluster and breathed life into it through first-class narration. As far as I am concerned, all major book publishing houses should collaborate on crafting a multi-billion dollar deal that allows Morgan Freeman to voice every book-on-tape ever, and yet to be, produced. Hands down, Freeman's voice is the most iconic in Hollywood (sorry, James Earl Jones). Even so (perhaps it wasn't written into his script), when it comes to Penguins, Freeman tended to glaze over moments in which a young penguin gets sacked by an albatross or a mother becomes porpoise fodder, instead allowing nature to run its awe-inspiring course. Hell, even Spielberg recruited Freeman's voice for a 30-second clip in War of the Worlds; now that's drawing power!

3. Seven
As one of the most spellbinding psychological thrillers of this era, Seven combined the accolades of Brad Pitt, Freeman, and Kevin Spacey, an ensemble cast that chilled countless fans of American cinema as they played out David Fincher's masterwork. As Detective William Somerset, a cop on the verge of retirement, Freeman portrayed a crime specialist with one last case left to lead, one that he'd regret signing up for. Freeman masterfully shows Pitt (David Mills) the ropes throughout the pursuit of a serial killer (Kevin Spacey's John Doe) obsessed with the seven deadly sins, only to watch all that he does for Mills come tumbling down. The anguish in Freeman's voice as the sins of Envy and Wrath are revealed to Mills and Somerset is absolutely haunting, leading one to believe that Freeman, just as he always has, fully embraced his role. In addition to Freeman's portrayal, Kevin Spacey's performance was Oscar-worthy, even in spite of appearing in the film for a mere twenty-five minutes.

2. Lean on Me
This film is a must-see for educators everywhere, as it shows that, even in the most dire of circumstances, an educator can rise above to instruct, lead, and inspire. As Eastside High's Principal Joe Clark, Freeman rid a Patterson, New Jersey high school of miscreants of all sorts, calling on even the not-so ably-minded to pass a mandatory state assessment. Freeman's passion and vigor jump off the screen through each and every scene of 1989's Lean on Me, one of a trio of films that surfaced in Freeman's most successful year in Hollywood. Clark got kids to quit drugs and rallied his staff to extend beyond the normal duties of an educator, harboring a renaissance at Eastside High. If Morgan Freeman were my principal, Lord only knows I'd rush to work on a daily basis, just to see what he would do next. Although unorthodox and outright bizarre from time to time, Clark constantly pulled out all the stops. Needless to say, Freeman's role was one for his career and the ages.

1. Shawshank Redemption
The film by which the TNT network based the phrase "TNT Knows Drama," Shawshank Redemption, at first a Stephen King short story, is one of the greatest films of all time, one that stands as the movie by which Freeman and Tim Robbins may define their careers. By coining the phrase, "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'," Morgan Freeman's Ellis 'Red' Redding was Shawshank's moral barometer, gauging each and every inmate that left and entered the prison's walls with impartial judgment and compassionate eyes.

The Fictitiously Vicious List of Bad Ass Black Dudes

As an homage to all things fiercely bad-ass and Nubian, I present to you the list of the baddest black characters to ever walk this planet, a group of dudes just looking to clean your clock with one sideways look on your behalf. And if you don't like it, you'll get served a Clubber Lang right hook to the dome piece, sucka!

5. Principal Joe Walsh, Eastside's Finest

Joe Walsh simply did not give a damn what his superintendent thought about his unorthodox practices, just as long as Eastside High's hallways were expunged of cretins, miscreants, and low lives. This kinda FU attitude is just what the doctor ordered for the schools of America! Want to smoke crack, do you? Just ask Sams how that worked out---you'll find yourself dangling from the rooftops for all those rocks you're slingin'! Can't get to class on time? Consider your ass locked out of the premises. Just as long as you care about a state-mandated assessment, you're alright in Walsh's book.

4. Go and Tell Your Friends that Mr. Eko Let You Live

So what he punked out when he came face-to-face with a tall column of nondescript black smoke? Homeboy earned that death with a D.U.I. And if that's not enough street cred for you, then bear the wrath of of Mr. Eko's bludgeon, complete with biblical scripture and notch marks for each unsuspecting fool he put to death. Drug-dealing while donning a clergyman's tunic? No task was too specious to ask of Nigeria's finest.

3. Clubber Lang Will Beat You Like a Dog, Fool!

Even Apollo Creed bowed down to Clubber Lang's blazing quick fists of steel and open threats of crucifixion. With quips like 'Paper Champion,' Lang could manhandle you with verbal jabs just as potent and demoralizing as his punch. Fools everywhere were pitied in having to face the brashly pernicious prizefighter from the mean streets of Chicago. Was it worse to endure a Thunderlips power slam or a Lang uppercut? Clubber reckons you know the answer.

2. King Kong Ain't Got S#*% on Alonzo Harris!

Either Denzel is bringing down dirty cops (American Gangster) or playing one himself (Training Day). The notorious Alonzo Harris set Boy Scout Jake Hoyt on the path of the wicked with outlandish cop behavior, knocking around hard-nosed punks with random pistol whippings, knives to the jugular, and threats to lob a cracker's lower male extremity right the hell off. What's that you say? Not so keen on the idea of joining the corrupt underground of the LAPD? Have an incriminating dose of Mr. Sherman Hemsley to straighten you out. Otherwise, we're gonna have a problem. Even in death, Harris still sent the treacherous vagrants of Compton off with a big fat 'F$%& you and yo' momma!' Not even Tony Montana took that many bullets to the limbs, face, and torso.

1. And Jules Winnfield Shall Strike Down Upon Thee with Great Vengeance!

Listen: when a dude like Jules lays waste to some sheepish criminal in the name of God, there's no denying him the number one slot. Whether he's instructing some bitch to be cool or embroidering his wallet with a 'Bad Mother F%*#er' decal, you know Jules means some serious business. My man made the Jheri Curl fashionable, complementing the hairstyle with the meanest of scowls and the shiniest piece of Smith and Wesson a smooth killer could get his hands on. Top it off with a verse or two from the gospel, and you've got yourself the Baddest Black Character of Film, baby!