Morgan Freeman receives AFI Life Achievement Award
I normally do not post anything about the entertainment industry… there are enough sites out there covering all that hype. And, honestly, I do not follow it that closely. Sure, I love movies, and have some favorite directors and actors, but if you put a list of who the younger popular actors are these days, I most likely wouldn’t be able to guess 25% of them. The older ones which I grew up with, or have been around for decades – at least many years – are the ones I am more familiar with.
However, in this case, I am posting this video about Morgan Freeman being honored as the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award recipient because he truly is a rare case when it comes to acting. He has starred in dozens of roles throughout the years, but Shawshank Redemption is the movie where I came to realize how powerful of an actor he is.
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When AFI was founded in 1967, one of its purposes was to ensure that “great accomplishments of the past are recognized to the end that the masters of film may take their deserved place in history beside leaders in other arts.”
This objective was clearly achieved through the AFI Life Achievement Award, which was established by the AFI Board of Trustees on February 23, 1973. The AFI Life Achievement Award honors an individual whose career in motion pictures or television has greatly contributed to the enrichment of American culture.
The selection criteria states that “the recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.” In 1993, the AFI Board of Trustees extended the criteria to encompass individuals with active careers and work of significance yet to be accomplished. (Source: AFI website)
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I simply would like to honor Morgan by breaking my norm and posting the short video of his award night. He most certainly deserves this award.
Previous recipients (from the AFI website):
Morgan Freeman 2011
Mike Nichols 2010
Michael Douglas 2009
Warren Beatty 2008
Al Pacino 2007
Sir Sean Connery 2006
George Lucas 2005
Meryl Streep 2004
Robert De Niro 2003
Tom Hanks 2002
Barbra Streisand 2001
Harrison Ford 2000
Dustin Hoffman 1999
Robert Wise 1998
Martin Scorsese 1997
Clint Eastwood 1996
Steven Spielberg 1995
Jack Nicholson 1994
Elizabeth Taylor 1993
Sidney Poitier 1992
Kirk Douglas 1991
David Lean 1990
Gregory Peck 1989
Jack Lemmon 1988
Barbara Stanwyck 1987
Billy Wilder 1986
Gene Kelly 1985
Lillian Gish 1984
John Huston 1983
Frank Capra 1982
Fred Astaire 1981
James Stewart 1980
Alfred Hitchcock 1979
Henry Fonda 1978
Bette Davis 1977
William Wyler 1976
Orson Welles 1975
James Cagney 1974
John Ford 1973