Is Morgan Freeman the best choice for AFI tribute?
Some of our forum posters are not impressed that the American Film Institute will bestow its lifetime achievement award upon Morgan Freeman next June. While many posters are pleased with the news, there's a surprising amount of grumbling.
I don't understand why. Just measuring Freeman's screen accomplishment using Oscar as a yardstick, he's had a praiseworthy career, appearing in three best-picture winners: "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), "Unforgiven" (1992) and "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989). He won best supporting actor for "M$B" (as it's often abbreviated) and was nominated again in supporting for "Street Smart" (1987). He's been nominated three times in lead: "Invictus" (2009), "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) and "Driving Miss Daisy."
Three of his films are on the American Film Institute's list of "100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time": "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Glory" (1989).
Below are some comments from our message boards. See more here.
Alfred Hitchrock: For what it's worth, my favorite Morgan Freeman performance is "The Shawshank Redemption" (you know, the No. 1 movie on IMDB that film snobs love to hate) ... There, I said it!
GoBlue! This is a great honor for a great American actor! sohappy
Brilliance inmorbid: Never been a Freeman fan. His filmography is overwhelmingly bland (oxymoron).
Streep Fan: Is Olivia De Havilland not interested?
oscarnutlen: Morgan Freeman is a fine actor but his body of work is underwhelming...he isn't a major movie star .... he is basically a character actor...I guess the AFI standards are going down the drain as well as every other award in this country. In a year where he will probably receive his 7th Oscar nomination..Robert Duvall would have been a better choice.
seanflynn: Freeman is a better actor than either Robert Redford and Woody Allen, is a major star, deserves this. That said, this award is given to someone whose presence will sell a lot of tickets and tables. Freeman will sell more than Duvall. That's just the way these things work.
Awardshq: Why all the hate on Morgan Freeman? He is a tremendous actor and is fully deserving of this award.
Junk: This choice is certainly better than giving it to the likes of Michael Douglas and Warren Beatty IMO. Shirley McLaine would have been a great choice this year. But AFI really lost its credibility way back when they started giving film industry's greatest life achievement honors to 40 somethings like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Dr. McPhearson: I did not think he deserved the Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby," but I'm glad that he's getting the AFI award.
Photo: Morgan Freeman in "Million Dollar Baby." Photo credit: Warner Bros.
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no matter who we think deserves afi lifetime achievement award morgan freeman will get it anyway.my choice would have been either robert redford or robert duvall or even francis ford coppola.the afi award is for having an impact on movies and moviemakers either an actor/actress or a director/producer who has done his or her contribute to the industry.sometimes some people get it too early like tom hanks or harrison ford,but it is a tribute to those who set a standard in movies and therefore are showed by being appreciated with this award.
Posted by: randall gerber | October 30, 2010 at 08:13 AM
i have respect morgan freeman as an actor,but their are people with longer film careers such as robert redford,,jane fonda,francis ford coppola,michael caine,woody allen and robert duvall.mr freeman as had a lasting affect on movies today,but the film institute should have waited a couple or so years to honor him.in giving out honorary and lifetime awards,people who head them sometime don't get the meaning of the those words"honorary" and"lifetime".even jerry lewis deserves this award.
Posted by: randall gerber | October 14, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Yes, Morgan Freeman is an excellent choice for the AFI Award - and he will also be the second African American next to Sidney Poitier to get it - but there are other people too who deserve this most prestigious honour right now as well. Like:
Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, Norman Jewison, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Shirley MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Stanley Donan, Robert Redford, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Peter O'Toole, Albert Finney, Julie Andrews, Oliver Stone, Diane Keaton, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Christie, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Robert Zemeckis, Milos Forman, Mel Brooks, Denzel Washington, Sean Penn, Ron Howard, Russell Crowe, Peter Weir, Robin Williams, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Jeff Bridges, Jon Voight... am I missing anyone???
Posted by: Jeremy | October 13, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Members of AFI are asked to submit names of who they feel are worthy and Freeman received the majority of votes.
Instead of griping and complaining the commenters can join and than have a say .
Otherwise what they think really doesn't matter.
Posted by: Barbara W | October 12, 2010 at 06:30 PM
i am a little skeptic on morgan freeman getting this lifetime honor,don't get me wrong he's a very good actor, but someone like woody allen,robert redford,jane fonda,francis ford coppola,michael caine and especially robert duvall i think deserve it better then mr freeman.this not like when they gave it to tom hanks in 2002 and harrison ford in 2000.there's not much er can do about it. thank you.
congarduations to you mr freeman
Posted by: randall gerber | October 12, 2010 at 03:42 PM
he is a great actor and deserved he has a great body of work he deserved it. Deserves it more than michael douglas who is very bland. Acotrs in the future id like to see get it are gene hackman ,michael caine robert duvall and tommy lee jones
Posted by: superniceguy89 | October 12, 2010 at 02:33 PM