The five greatest Morgan Freeman narrations
Does Morgan Freeman have the most distinctive voice in Hollywood? Quite possibly. His soothing narration has echoed through the hallways of cinema for generations, taking us by the hand and leading us through some of the most beloved classics to have ever graced the silver screen.
Freeman has starred in some of the most successful films of the era, whether he’s the brains behind Batman’s gadgets and gizmos as Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy or a Sargent Major in American Civil War dramas, the actor has taken roles in a plethora of genres.
In the kaleidoscopic realm of cinematic narration, though, Freeman emerges as the oracle of the silver screen, his velvety baritone akin to a cosmic symphony that guides audiences through the vivid tapestries of storytelling. His voice isn’t just a tool; it’s a celestial force—a rich, soulful timbre that possesses an otherworldly magnetism, capable of casting a spell over the listener. Like a master storyteller by the cosmic campfire, his narration transcends mere words; it’s an invitation to embark on a journey, a cosmic odyssey through the realms of imagination.
Today, Freeman’s narration has almost transcended the actor and the films themselves, sitting in the realm of irony and comedy. However, this doesn’t take away from some of the brilliant times Freeman has narrated some wonderful films. Here is a list of the five best.
The five best Morgan Freeman narrations:
5. Born to Be Wild (David Lickley, 2011)
Born to Be Wild, which also was shown in IMAX 3D, follows the lives of a group of orphaned orangutans and elephants in Borneo and two extraordinary and dedicated animal preservationists who care for them. Freeman is the perfect man to lead you through this heart-rending documentary that really does warm the cockles of your heart.
The film was a tremendous success at the box office, making over £120million. The film is filled with touching moments, Freeman’s voiceover certainly adds the heartstring-pulling scenes. It was also praised for its 3D release, which, at first glance, might seem like purely a way to maximise revenue, but, in fact, transported viewers into the jungle and environment, making the story even more moving.
4. War of The Worlds (Steven Spielberg, 2005)
Steven Spielberg wrangled in Freeman to narrate his sci-fi adventure about an alien invasion that threatens to destroy life on Earth, which starred Tom Cruise in the lead role and was based on the famous novel of the same name by H. G. Wells. Freeman narrated the opening of the movie and the closing section.
War of the Worlds proved to be a massive success at the box office, with Cruise in flying form as the action hero father and Spielberg relishing in the pure spectacle of huge set pieces and blowing stuff up. It’s a less pretentious take on the original novel but retains the sense of horror in this sci-fi epic.
3. Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood, 2004)
Freeman’s narration featured in the Academy Award-nominated sports drama that follows a boxing coach and his aspiring female boxing student, played by Hilary Swank, and directed by Clint Eastwood.
Eastwood also stars as the ill-tempered boxing coach Frankie Dunn and offers a classic performance, with grunting and screwed-up facial expressions turned up to the max. Swank and Freeman also provide solid performances, however, the full punch of the film is held back slightly by Eastwood’s tendency to fall into cliché and predictable plot twists.
2. March of the Penguins (Luc Jacquet, 2005)
Freeman is back to offer a narrating masterclass in another wildlife documentary, March of the Penguins, a film that tells the epic, tragic and thrilling journey of a large group of emperor penguins that travel across the South Pole towards their breeding ground.
Director Luc Jacquet and his team of brave and dedicated documentary filmmakers bring the staggering spectacle of the Antarctic, captured in stunning cinematography, and an incredibly touching, funny, and intimate story about life, death and family to the big screen. Freeman’s voice-over is sparse but works perfectly with the events unfolding on screen.
1. The Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont, 1994)
The Shawshank Redemption, the most iconic of Freeman’s narrating gigs. The prison drama, based on the Stephen King novella, which starred Tim Robbins, became one of the most prized classics to come out of the ’90s era of Hollywood. Freeman’s narration in the film became iconic and was the springboard for all the narrating parts that followed.
The movie charts the journey of a successful banker (Robbins) who is sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Inside the prison, he befriends Ellis Boyd Redding (Freeman), who helps him deal with life behind bars, dealing with the false accusations of killing his wife, and eventually helping him escape from prison.
