Top 10 Morgan Freeman Performances

he’s played a prisoner a principal the

he’s played a prisoner a principal the president and God

president and God

president and God welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks from Morgan

counting down our picks from Morgan

counting down our picks from Morgan Freeman’s top ten performances I want

Freeman’s top ten performances I want

Freeman’s top ten performances I want you to look and I want you to listen

you to look and I want you to listen

you to look and I want you to listen okay number ten Ned Logan Unforgiven

okay number ten Ned Logan Unforgiven

okay number ten Ned Logan Unforgiven packing a cowboy hat and shotgun Freeman

packing a cowboy hat and shotgun Freeman

packing a cowboy hat and shotgun Freeman steps into the middle of this

steps into the middle of this

steps into the middle of this oscar-winning Western beside

oscar-winning Western beside

oscar-winning Western beside heavyweights like Clint Eastwood Gene

heavyweights like Clint Eastwood Gene

heavyweights like Clint Eastwood Gene Hackman and Richard Harris Freeman

Hackman and Richard Harris Freeman

Hackman and Richard Harris Freeman shines and even stands out as retired

shines and even stands out as retired

shines and even stands out as retired gunslinger and film conscience Ned Logan

gunslinger and film conscience Ned Logan

gunslinger and film conscience Ned Logan with a lesser actor this character could

with a lesser actor this character could

with a lesser actor this character could easily have become a simple sidekick but

easily have become a simple sidekick but

easily have become a simple sidekick but with Freeman at the helm Logan is a

with Freeman at the helm Logan is a

with Freeman at the helm Logan is a reminder of reason in a lawless world

reminder of reason in a lawless world

reminder of reason in a lawless world you know we’ll cloudy was laughs you

you know we’ll cloudy was laughs you

you know we’ll cloudy was laughs you wouldn’t be doing this number nine

wouldn’t be doing this number nine

wouldn’t be doing this number nine Nelson Mandela Invictus it says he can

Nelson Mandela Invictus it says he can

Nelson Mandela Invictus it says he can win an election but can he run a country

win an election but can he run a country

win an election but can he run a country not even one day on the job in the after

not even one day on the job in the after

not even one day on the job in the after you yes a legitimate question ever since

you yes a legitimate question ever since

you yes a legitimate question ever since Nelson Mandela himself hand-picked

Nelson Mandela himself hand-picked

Nelson Mandela himself hand-picked Freeman to portray him we’d been waiting

Freeman to portray him we’d been waiting

Freeman to portray him we’d been waiting anxiously for the result freeman’s

anxiously for the result freeman’s

anxiously for the result freeman’s Mandela may not be this emotional films

Mandela may not be this emotional films

Mandela may not be this emotional films main character but he is the vital

main character but he is the vital

main character but he is the vital behind-the-scenes player who keeps the

behind-the-scenes player who keeps the

behind-the-scenes player who keeps the inspirational plot moving along what is

inspirational plot moving along what is

inspirational plot moving along what is your philosophy on leadership how do you

your philosophy on leadership how do you

your philosophy on leadership how do you inspire your team to do their best with

inspire your team to do their best with

inspire your team to do their best with nobility Grace and confidence

nobility Grace and confidence

nobility Grace and confidence Freeman calls to mind Mandela’s

Freeman calls to mind Mandela’s

Freeman calls to mind Mandela’s determination as the unwavering force

determination as the unwavering force

determination as the unwavering force for racial integration and earned an

for racial integration and earned an

for racial integration and earned an Oscar nomination for this

Oscar nomination for this

Oscar nomination for this once-in-a-lifetime role forgiveness

once-in-a-lifetime role forgiveness

once-in-a-lifetime role forgiveness liberates the soul it removes fear that

liberates the soul it removes fear that

liberates the soul it removes fear that is why it is such a powerful weapon

is why it is such a powerful weapon

is why it is such a powerful weapon number eight Joe Lewis Clark

number eight Joe Lewis Clark

number eight Joe Lewis Clark lean on me picket signs get your picture

lean on me picket signs get your picture

lean on me picket signs get your picture in the paper well we just want to work

in the paper well we just want to work

in the paper well we just want to work we are tired of the agitation the the

we are tired of the agitation the the

we are tired of the agitation the the posturing of crazy chattering how the

posturing of crazy chattering how the

posturing of crazy chattering how the hell can you talk about posturing lot

hell can you talk about posturing lot

hell can you talk about posturing lot when you all come

when you all come

when you all come the school board we’d already glimpsed

the school board we’d already glimpsed

the school board we’d already glimpsed Freeman star power but this role drove

Freeman star power but this role drove

Freeman star power but this role drove the point home as real-life inner city

the point home as real-life inner city

the point home as real-life inner city administrator crazy joke Clark Freeman

administrator crazy joke Clark Freeman

administrator crazy joke Clark Freeman arms himself with rousing speeches

arms himself with rousing speeches

arms himself with rousing speeches unflinching discipline and a baseball

unflinching discipline and a baseball

unflinching discipline and a baseball bat to revive a struggling school using

bat to revive a struggling school using

bat to revive a struggling school using unorthodox motivational methods well now

unorthodox motivational methods well now

unorthodox motivational methods well now they can call me Batman and by

they can call me Batman and by

they can call me Batman and by unorthodox we mean illegal Freeman’s

unorthodox we mean illegal Freeman’s

unorthodox we mean illegal Freeman’s simple style lens Authority and emotion

simple style lens Authority and emotion

simple style lens Authority and emotion to this standard tough love story about

to this standard tough love story about

to this standard tough love story about someone who cares so deeply he’ll risk

someone who cares so deeply he’ll risk

someone who cares so deeply he’ll risk it all number seven fast black street

it all number seven fast black street

it all number seven fast black street smart after starting on stage and on TV

smart after starting on stage and on TV

smart after starting on stage and on TV Freeman became a film star thanks to his

Freeman became a film star thanks to his

Freeman became a film star thanks to his role as a morally bankrupt fast-talking

role as a morally bankrupt fast-talking

role as a morally bankrupt fast-talking pimp you don’t tell me how people react

pimp you don’t tell me how people react

pimp you don’t tell me how people react me I know what people who don’t no

me I know what people who don’t no

me I know what people who don’t no matter what they say cuz I read mine

matter what they say cuz I read mine

matter what they say cuz I read mine today

today

today Freeman elevates this movie with his

Freeman elevates this movie with his

Freeman elevates this movie with his oscar-nominated performance and is one

oscar-nominated performance and is one

oscar-nominated performance and is one of the only reasons it’s watchable it’s

of the only reasons it’s watchable it’s

of the only reasons it’s watchable it’s shocking to see him act so convincingly

shocking to see him act so convincingly

shocking to see him act so convincingly ruthless and intimidating but at the

ruthless and intimidating but at the

ruthless and intimidating but at the same time so charismatic play rough

same time so charismatic play rough

same time so charismatic play rough it ain’t all basketball and dishwashers

it ain’t all basketball and dishwashers

it ain’t all basketball and dishwashers out here

out here

out here the movie doesn’t satisfyingly resolve

the movie doesn’t satisfyingly resolve

the movie doesn’t satisfyingly resolve his story but Freeman is a more than

his story but Freeman is a more than

his story but Freeman is a more than memorable bad guy you want money you

memorable bad guy you want money you

memorable bad guy you want money you come to me you try going into business

come to me you try going into business

come to me you try going into business for yourself you’d be one dead hole it’s

for yourself you’d be one dead hole it’s

for yourself you’d be one dead hole it’s not two-faced bitches my face my tips in

not two-faced bitches my face my tips in

not two-faced bitches my face my tips in my yeah

my yeah

my yeah number six Lucius Fox the Batman trilogy

number six Lucius Fox the Batman trilogy

number six Lucius Fox the Batman trilogy anything else you can trouble me for an

anything else you can trouble me for an

anything else you can trouble me for an even issue

even issue

even issue three buttons it’s a little 90s mr.

three buttons it’s a little 90s mr.

three buttons it’s a little 90s mr. Wayne one of the many things these films

Wayne one of the many things these films

Wayne one of the many things these films do right is they feature veteran actors

do right is they feature veteran actors

do right is they feature veteran actors in vital supporting roles

in vital supporting roles

in vital supporting roles Freeman while providing Bruce Wayne with

Freeman while providing Bruce Wayne with

Freeman while providing Bruce Wayne with the gadgets he requires to be Batman

the gadgets he requires to be Batman

the gadgets he requires to be Batman also acts as a father figure and

also acts as a father figure and

also acts as a father figure and sometimes an ethical Center beautiful

sometimes an ethical Center beautiful

sometimes an ethical Center beautiful unethical dangerous full of warmth class

unethical dangerous full of warmth class

unethical dangerous full of warmth class and even some comic moments Freeman’s

and even some comic moments Freeman’s

and even some comic moments Freeman’s understated performance proves why he

understated performance proves why he

understated performance proves why he was the only actor ever considered for

was the only actor ever considered for

was the only actor ever considered for the part I want to borrow it for

the part I want to borrow it for

the part I want to borrow it for spelunking mr. lung yeah you know cave

spelunking mr. lung yeah you know cave

spelunking mr. lung yeah you know cave diving expecting to run too much gunfire

diving expecting to run too much gunfire

diving expecting to run too much gunfire in these caves number five sergeant

in these caves number five sergeant

in these caves number five sergeant major John Rollins glory outlining the

major John Rollins glory outlining the

major John Rollins glory outlining the tribulations of the first all

tribulations of the first all

tribulations of the first all african-american civil war unit this

african-american civil war unit this

african-american civil war unit this movie tracks the bravery of those

movie tracks the bravery of those

movie tracks the bravery of those forgotten by history and it’s strength

forgotten by history and it’s strength

forgotten by history and it’s strength comes from supporting players like

comes from supporting players like

comes from supporting players like Denzel Washington Andre Braugher

Denzel Washington Andre Braugher

Denzel Washington Andre Braugher and Freeman himself all three transcend

and Freeman himself all three transcend

and Freeman himself all three transcend Hollywood stereotypes about African

Hollywood stereotypes about African

Hollywood stereotypes about African Americans and give tremendously

Americans and give tremendously

Americans and give tremendously distinctive performances what are you so

distinctive performances what are you so

distinctive performances what are you so full of hate you just want to go out and

full of hate you just want to go out and

full of hate you just want to go out and fight everybody oh you’ve been whipped

fight everybody oh you’ve been whipped

fight everybody oh you’ve been whipped and chased by hounds well that might not

and chased by hounds well that might not

and chased by hounds well that might not be living but it sure as hell ain’t

be living but it sure as hell ain’t

be living but it sure as hell ain’t dying and that is what these white boys

dying and that is what these white boys

dying and that is what these white boys been doing for going on three years now

been doing for going on three years now

been doing for going on three years now dying by the thousands dying for you

dying by the thousands dying for you

dying by the thousands dying for you fool as the kindly reasonable father

fool as the kindly reasonable father

fool as the kindly reasonable father figure

figure

figure Freeman’s John Rollins is a born leader

Freeman’s John Rollins is a born leader

Freeman’s John Rollins is a born leader who could even moonlight as a pastor we

who could even moonlight as a pastor we

who could even moonlight as a pastor we are lessons of Jesus name

are lessons of Jesus name

are lessons of Jesus name [Applause]

number four

number four Eddie scrap-iron Dupree Million Dollar

Eddie scrap-iron Dupree Million Dollar

Eddie scrap-iron Dupree Million Dollar Baby Freeman’s got one of Hollywood’s

Baby Freeman’s got one of Hollywood’s

Baby Freeman’s got one of Hollywood’s best voices and it’s that voice that

best voices and it’s that voice that

best voices and it’s that voice that narrates this story boxing is about

narrates this story boxing is about

narrates this story boxing is about respect getting it for yourself

respect getting it for yourself

respect getting it for yourself and take that away from the other guy

and take that away from the other guy

and take that away from the other guy told through the eyes of a former

told through the eyes of a former

told through the eyes of a former fighter in a straightforward unemotional

fighter in a straightforward unemotional

fighter in a straightforward unemotional way this tale is one where the boxing is

way this tale is one where the boxing is

way this tale is one where the boxing is incidental and the relationships are

incidental and the relationships are

incidental and the relationships are everything my man

everything my man

everything my man you rock partnering again with Clint

you rock partnering again with Clint

you rock partnering again with Clint Eastwood Freeman is a friend and

Eastwood Freeman is a friend and

Eastwood Freeman is a friend and confidant and not the film’s focus but

confidant and not the film’s focus but

confidant and not the film’s focus but his unwavering support to the main

his unwavering support to the main

his unwavering support to the main players earned him his first Oscar

players earned him his first Oscar

players earned him his first Oscar people die every day Frankie mopping

people die every day Frankie mopping

people die every day Frankie mopping floors washing dishes you know what her

floors washing dishes you know what her

floors washing dishes you know what her last thought is I never got my shot

last thought is I never got my shot

last thought is I never got my shot because of you Maggie got her shot if

because of you Maggie got her shot if

because of you Maggie got her shot if she dies today you know what her last

she dies today you know what her last

she dies today you know what her last thought will be I think I did all right

thought will be I think I did all right

thought will be I think I did all right number three Hoke Colburn Driving Miss

number three Hoke Colburn Driving Miss

number three Hoke Colburn Driving Miss Daisy Miss Daisy Lowe knows you ain’t no

Daisy Miss Daisy Lowe knows you ain’t no

Daisy Miss Daisy Lowe knows you ain’t no fool spanning decades religions cultures

fool spanning decades religions cultures

fool spanning decades religions cultures and more this story proves that people

and more this story proves that people

and more this story proves that people from different worlds can find common

from different worlds can find common

from different worlds can find common ground after originating the role in the

ground after originating the role in the

ground after originating the role in the Pulitzer prize-winning play Freeman gave

Pulitzer prize-winning play Freeman gave

Pulitzer prize-winning play Freeman gave an impressively subtle performance in

an impressively subtle performance in

an impressively subtle performance in the film as Miss Daisy’s kind wise and

the film as Miss Daisy’s kind wise and

the film as Miss Daisy’s kind wise and patience show first this isn’t the way

patience show first this isn’t the way

patience show first this isn’t the way go back go back this minute Miss Daisy

go back go back this minute Miss Daisy

go back go back this minute Miss Daisy look look yonder typically see with

look look yonder typically see with

look look yonder typically see with gestures and facial expressions

gestures and facial expressions

gestures and facial expressions sometimes seeing more than words this

sometimes seeing more than words this

sometimes seeing more than words this movie propelled Freeman to leading man

movie propelled Freeman to leading man

movie propelled Freeman to leading man status and earned him his second Oscar

status and earned him his second Oscar

status and earned him his second Oscar nomination Thanksgiving power number two

nomination Thanksgiving power number two

nomination Thanksgiving power number two detective lieutenant William Somerset

detective lieutenant William Somerset

detective lieutenant William Somerset seven if we cast John Doe and he turns

seven if we cast John Doe and he turns

seven if we cast John Doe and he turns out to be the death

out to be the death

out to be the death if he’s Satan himself that might live up

if he’s Satan himself that might live up

if he’s Satan himself that might live up to our expectations but

to our expectations but

to our expectations but he’s not it’s estimated the formulas

he’s not it’s estimated the formulas

he’s not it’s estimated the formulas they’re headstrong reckless young cop

they’re headstrong reckless young cop

they’re headstrong reckless young cop partners with the finicky almost retired

partners with the finicky almost retired

partners with the finicky almost retired old guy only this film and its

old guy only this film and its

old guy only this film and its characters are much more than that

characters are much more than that

characters are much more than that thanks to top-notch acting on the trail

thanks to top-notch acting on the trail

thanks to top-notch acting on the trail of a sadistic serial killer Freeman and

of a sadistic serial killer Freeman and

of a sadistic serial killer Freeman and Brad Pitt showed dynamic chemistry but

Brad Pitt showed dynamic chemistry but

Brad Pitt showed dynamic chemistry but it’s Freeman’s methodical perceptive and

it’s Freeman’s methodical perceptive and

it’s Freeman’s methodical perceptive and almost scholarly performance in both the

almost scholarly performance in both the

almost scholarly performance in both the suspenseful action sequences and the

suspenseful action sequences and the

suspenseful action sequences and the quieter scenes that steals the show for

quieter scenes that steals the show for

quieter scenes that steals the show for the first time ever you and I are in

the first time ever you and I are in

the first time ever you and I are in total agreement number one Ellis Boyd

total agreement number one Ellis Boyd

total agreement number one Ellis Boyd read reading the Shawshank Redemption

read reading the Shawshank Redemption

read reading the Shawshank Redemption Stephen King wrote this character as a

Stephen King wrote this character as a

Stephen King wrote this character as a white Irishman but Freeman’s aura of

white Irishman but Freeman’s aura of

white Irishman but Freeman’s aura of honesty and his calm compassionate voice

honesty and his calm compassionate voice

honesty and his calm compassionate voice got him the job there must be a con like

got him the job there must be a con like

got him the job there must be a con like me in every prison in America I’m the

me in every prison in America I’m the

me in every prison in America I’m the guy who can get it for you cigarettes a

guy who can get it for you cigarettes a

guy who can get it for you cigarettes a bag of reefer if that’s your thing a

bag of reefer if that’s your thing a

bag of reefer if that’s your thing a bottle of brandy to celebrate your kids

bottle of brandy to celebrate your kids

bottle of brandy to celebrate your kids high school graduation then there

high school graduation then there

high school graduation then there anything within reason while it is his

anything within reason while it is his

anything within reason while it is his quintessential narrator role Freeman

quintessential narrator role Freeman

quintessential narrator role Freeman anchors the story in person as a

anchors the story in person as a

anchors the story in person as a Shawshank lifer who forms vital

Shawshank lifer who forms vital

Shawshank lifer who forms vital relationships inside prison walls but

relationships inside prison walls but

relationships inside prison walls but struggles on the outside after decades

struggles on the outside after decades

struggles on the outside after decades spent incarcerated you don’t need to ask

spent incarcerated you don’t need to ask

spent incarcerated you don’t need to ask me every time

me every time

me every time just go understand but that’s his best

just go understand but that’s his best

just go understand but that’s his best work in the film because the redemption

work in the film because the redemption

work in the film because the redemption is his rehabilitate it it’s just a

is his rehabilitate it it’s just a

is his rehabilitate it it’s just a bullshit word so you go on and stamp

bullshit word so you go on and stamp

bullshit word so you go on and stamp your form Sonny and stop wasting my time

your form Sonny and stop wasting my time

your form Sonny and stop wasting my time because they tell you the truth I don’t

because they tell you the truth I don’t

because they tell you the truth I don’t give a shit do you agree with our list

give a shit do you agree with our list

give a shit do you agree with our list I can’t get into office which Morgan

I can’t get into office which Morgan

I can’t get into office which Morgan Freeman performance do you think is the

Freeman performance do you think is the

Freeman performance do you think is the greatest for more top tens about your

greatest for more top tens about your

greatest for more top tens about your favorite stars be sure to subscribe to

favorite stars be sure to subscribe to

favorite stars be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com where are you gonna be