best film: Morgan Freeman’s best film is probably Unforgiven (Dark Knight another fine option/masterpiece) but how about the idea that The Shawshank Redemption is his fifth best film? Pretty wild, right? I love Shawshank Redemption so this speaks volumes to just how good Freeman’s films are at the top. I think he, like many actors before him (Welles who I just wrote about, also Brando) took his fair share of paycheck movies but when he decides to be serious there’s a pretty good chance his movie is going to end up in the top 5 of its respective year (six of Freeman’s 12 archiveable films landed in their years’ top 5).
best performance: The Shawshank Redemption. The voice-over is sublime (he doubles down on that again for Eastwood’s The Million Dollar Baby)—simply one of the best in film history and he plays Red with such authenticity and patience. It’s one of the more likable characters in contemporary cinema. Seven is the next closest as I love Freeman playing against type here with an edge—exacting, determined and intelligent.
stylistic innovations/traits: Morgan Freeman debuted extremely late in the archives. He was 50 years old in 1987 when he made his first appearance with Street Smart. Once he did arrive though he came on like a whirlwind and went on a run scoring three Oscar noms in seven years and starring in two best picture winners. His voice is probably what he’s best known for and basically from Glory on he plays reliably steady characters.
directors worked with: Nolan (3) but the more important auteur pairing is Eastwood (2) and then once a piece with Fincher and Spielberg
Top 5 Performances:
- Shawshank Redemption
- Seven
- Million Dollar Baby
- Driving Miss Daisy
- Glory
Archiveable films
| 1987- Street Smart |
| 1989- Driving Miss Daisy |
| 1989- Glory |
| 1992- Unforgiven |
| 1994- The Shawshank Redemption |
| 1995- Seven |
| 1997- Amisted |
| 2004- Million Dollar Baby |
| 2005- Batman Begins |
| 2007- Gone Baby Gone |
| 2008- The Dark Knight |
| 2012- The Dark Knight Rises |
Why is invictus(2009) not in the archives?
Why is Invictus(2009) not in the archives?
@Janith- Just wasn’t good enough> I have seen it a few times.
I was immensely disappointed watching shawshank redemption the other night. I expected it to be a popular masterpirce or something and I didn’t like it. I don’t like that the only religious character is evil. Unlike night of the hunter, where Mitcham is contrasted by lillian gishs loving matriarch. This however seems to be the ultimate secular humanist film. I also think that since it took place in the 40s to 60s it should have confronted racism and the attitudes people had at the time. Does darabont seriously think that in the 40s everyone would just treat a black man who was a convicted murderer super nicely and never use a slip at all. The closeups were repetitive but they were pretty good and roger dealing of course was amazing. The score was a poor man’s lord of the rings and I enjoyed it. Of course Tim Robbins and freeman were great especially Robbins. What an underrated actor. Anyways i think freeman best characterization might be in drivong miss daisy which is an honest and touching film that deserves more love than it gets, even if it isn’t great or super visually inspired. Films like that and guess who’s coming to dinner should be recognized for dealing with race. They deal with the progressive whites of the time who.have hidden prejudices but rather than condemn them (like Jordan peele does) it gives them a chance and shows that they can learn to appreciate the other races and that reconciliation and getting along is possible.
@m – feels like this is a big swing and a miss from you…. everyone loves Shawshank. Great film.
I also belong to the club of non-fans, i’m not saying that i hate it, i like it, but i won’t say that i “love” but this is largely due to the people.
I always hear them say how it was a giant masterpiece and one of the best films in history, material from the top 10, so when i saw it, they imagined my disappointment, a good movie, but one that draws heavily on its good story.
I have never understood the hype of this movie, they even say it is better than pulp fiction
The fact that it is overrated by imdb where it is ranked as the greatest film of all-time, I think puts unfair pressure on it. It’s not the best film ever, not even close, but it is a very good movie.
Sure, as i said very good movie, but after being very pumped up to hear that it was one of the best, my expectations were very high and well i was disappointed, has it happened to you?
@Aldo- the fault there is your expectations, no? Your criticism of Shawshank has nothing to do with the actual movie.
Anyways @M and @Aldo, It’s sad that you didn’t like Shawshank.
@M, I didn’t quite understand your criticisms. Red is the guy who can get things, so he is useful. The inmates may have all bonded under the rigors of prison life, too. Color might be secondary to the struggle of just getting by. Also, the story was told from Reds POV. Maybe he was just so used to all of the racismthat he simply toned it out of his story? And that’s what we saw and heard in the film? Red wanted to tell the story of him and Andy not of his own struggles.
Your criticism of religion doesn’t really make sense either and calling the score a poor man’s Lord of the rings… – that was hilarious. I disagree strongly. The closeup’s aren’t repetitive either.
@Azman my critique of the religious was actually my main reason. I am religious and even if a film has good aesthetic I dont like when they mock and make all believers look cruel or stupid. I understand that not everyone is religious, for example robert altman and bergman were atheists but understood that religion meant something to people and that those questions are serious and truly matter. Plus, @Azman, I agree with what you said about back to the future. It is tough to believe someone could dislike back to the future because of its energy and the excitement Zemeckis and the actors had making that entertaining ode to nostalgia and family.
I agree that Shawshank is not a masterpiece (clearly, it is not among the top fifty films) but it is a very good film. But I don’t really agree with “but one that draws heavily on its good story”, because I imagine that in many masterpieces the script is as important as the direction, an example would be Taxi Driver (which I consider the best American film) , I think the story is as important as Martin Scorsese in Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now as well, that when I reviewed it I realized not only the great direction, but also the great script, I think if Apocalypse Now had the same story as , for example, 1917, it would not be the same masterpiece.
There is some veracity in his comment, but not entirely, this was said by Martin Scorsese, not me “The only movie with a plot i did was The Departed” Drake shared the article, unfortunately i did not save it, could you share it again?
but there is certainly something special about finding a person, Apocalypse now, Taxi Driver and The Searchers.
To give another example, Kar-Wai Wong i’m pretty sure he said shot without script In the Mood for Love (Someone correct me if I’m wrong) and Drake has it as
the best movie # 13 ever
Drake what movies would you say of your top 100 is the script very important? (the movie doesn’t work without him) I’m trying to think but i can’t think of other than Casablanca, Chinatown
Plot has little to do with if a film is great. Script as well. I mean there can be great scripts and plots but there are many great films like 2001 a space odyssey with invisible scripts or a film like passion of joan that is just a trial. That is a problem I have with critics like rex reed who believe that plot is central and that any movie without a good story or coherent one is junk. That is just not true. Scorsese is right. Also, @Aldo I disagree with what you said. Casablanca is great primarily because of the script but Chinatown is a visual masterpiece super stylized neo noir that would work with the sound off and just the music and mise en scene.
The script is very important to too many of those films to bother listing off. That’s not to say it’s the *most* important thing to many or even any of them, but it’s impossible to say what movies wouldn’t work without their scripts… because then they’d be entirely different movies. Many of the greatest scripts ever written are represented in that list.
@Everyone Shawshank is a masterpiece. Drake, didn’t you reply to one of my older comments where you said Shawshank is a borderline MP? Doesn’t that make it one of the greatest films of all time?
Think about it, out of all the films ever created in cinema history, The Shawshank redemption is one of the top 100ish best movies according to cinema goers (rotten tomatoes and IMDb), easily one of the top 250 for me and one of the top 500 films according to TSPDT. In fact, on Drake’s list he has Shawshank almost 150 slots HIGHER (in the top 300-masterpiece territory) than the critical consensus does which makes it kinda UNDERRATED. I absolutely adore the film. I agree with Drake: “everyone loves Shawshank”.
I joked about this on the Back to the future page.
If you don’t like Shawshank, it’s difficult to believe you like movies at all(jk).
@Azman. I mentioned above that I like the movie, I just don’t “love” it, i don’t know why you mention that.
Underrated by critics but overrated by people.
well, I’m not saying it’s not a masterpiece, it’s just not one of the best movies ever made
as Matt Harris says “it’s not the best film ever, not even close”
I remember he has it as MS, right? has three movies above this
It just loses me with the argument of “top 100ish best movies according to cinema goers (rotten tomatoes and IMDb)” so based on that 12 angry men is the fifth best movie of all time and life is beautiful # 21
Sorry, but what Scorsese said is meaningless. Many films on Drake’s list the script is very important, examples: Bicycle thieves, Rashomon, Pulp Fiction, Tokyo Story, Boogie Nights ,. The Conformist, Annie Hall.Why in 2001 is the script invisible? Of course, without the direction of Kubrick the film would be different, but that does not make the script insignificant.
Scripts are important when they highlight human behaivor and longings. Needless talking and voice overs are usually just annoying. 2001 is a great script because it is simple and allows us to focus on the awe inspiring visuals and the Hal vs Dave aspect, as well as man’s evolution.
100% agree. For me this part of 2001 was the best part of the film
“The only film with a storyline I made was The Departed.” Paul Scharder is as important to Taxi Driver as Scorsese
@Lucas Henriques– what did Scorsese say that is meanlingless?
“The only film with a storyline I made was The Departed.” Paul Scharder is as important to Taxi Driver as Scorsese
@Lucas— close- but not right. “plot”– it is a big difference. Scorsese isn’t knocking the screenplay. He’s talking about the difference between story and plot. You being wrong about his impact on Taxi Driver in comparison with Schrader is another matter.
So I didn’t understand. What did Scorsese mean?
And if I’m not mistaken, PTA said, something like this: “The script is 70% of the film”
@Lucas Henriques Hitchcock said films need 3 things; script script and script. That doesn’t mean that they are more important than the other elements but they are important blueprints. Also Thomas Anderson is talented but id much rather heed Scorsese’s ideas
Yes, I agree, it’s like comparing with a human body, the heart, brain are both essence, without them there is no life (of course, there must be some exceptions). But I never said (or at least I didn’t mean to say) that the script is the most important element, I just don’t agree: the script doesn’t matter, or that the film just needs a great direction.
Okay, I’m lost, what are we talking about?, Hitchcock has said that he does not care about the story, if not how he is going to tell it.
Yes, I agree, it’s like comparing with a human body, the heart, brain are both essence, without them there is no life (of course, there must be some exceptions). But I never said (or at least I didn’t mean to say) that the script is the most important element, I just don’t agree: the script doesn’t matter, or that the film just needs a great direction.
I’ve been searching like crazy, i can’t find where you talk about that, i started with what is your argument for Rome that has no plot? and you linked Scorsese’s article
I was talking about a script, not a plot. Actually, I don’t even know if you’re asking me. You’re?
@Lucas Henriques. To begin, who are you talking to? haha
My last comment on Scorsese is for Drake, as he shared the article.
In the article, Scorsese says “the only movie with a plot I did was The Departed”
Hahaha. I don’t know either. Forget everything I said
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sid0z8ywmQ
Enjoy
Start around the 3:30 mark