Morgan Freeman once picked his most underrated movie

To have a long and successful career in cinema is to beat the odds. The majority of those who start out with an aim of having their name up in lights and carved into the history books fail miserably. It means that the few who do succeed, and succeed for a long time, are worthy of their place in history. Morgan Freeman has had a long and illustrious career in cinema, and even in his ninth decade on the planet, there’s no sign of him slowing down.

His captivating performances and unmistakable voice have entertained audiences across the globe and garnered him the status of a true Hollywood legend. Only a quick glance at his filmography and his extensive acting history, and it’s impressive to see the sheer number of hugely popular and successful movies he’s starred in over the last 50 years. It was interesting, therefore, to find out which film the actor believes to be the most underrated from his own catalogue.

While answering questions while promoting the release of Oblivion in 2013, a fan asked which film of his he thought deserved more recognition. Freeman’s answer was the 2012 project The Magic of Belle Isle. Now, ever the wily promoter, there is a chance that Freeman simply answered with one of his more recent projects. However there is some validity to his claim.

Freeman stars in the lead as Monte Wildhorn, a heavy-drinking and wheelchair-bound novelist who, at his nephew’s request, travels to Belle Isle to reignite his passion for writing. There, he befriends a single mother (played by Virginia Madsen) and her three children, who inspire him to write again. It’s the kind of heartfelt storyline which allows Freeman to truly embody his role and deliver a succinct showing of deeply resonant emotion.

The film is directed and co-written by Rob Reiner, who famously directed the comedy masterpiece This Is Spinal Tap and found further success with classics such as The Princess Bride, Misery, Stand by Me, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally.

The Magic of Belle Isle, however, feels like a throwback to a different time in cinema. It’s far more lighthearted and sentimental, packing nowhere near the same punch as Reiner’s previous work. The film was received with a lukewarm response from critics and at the box office. However, if you’re in the mood for listening to Freeman and taking him at his word, then the picture doesn’t do too much to disappoint.

It’s surprising, therefore, for Freeman to hold the film in such high regard. It can be interesting to find out which film actors have a particular attachment to within their own body of work. Their experience on set may sway their affection for a certain movie or if a picture presents a shift in the type of role they normally play.

In the case of Freeman, having starred in cult classics like The Shawshank Redemption, Seven, The Dark Knight trilogy, huge movies that have dominated at the box office, perhaps it’s refreshing to step into a smaller project that is unapologetically a “feel-good movie” and one that sets out to do exactly what it says on the tin. Or is playing a grumpy, drunken, and depressed cowboy hat-wearing western writer in a wheelchair just way more fun than it looks? I’ll let you decide.