Editing Morgan Freeman (section)

===1997–2004: Critical success and established actor===
[[File:Morgan Freeman 1998.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Freeman in 1998]]
In 1997, Freeman narrated the Academy Award-winning documentary ''[[The Long Way Home (1997 film)|The Long Way Home]]'', about [[Jewish]] refugees' liberation after World War II and the establishment of Israel.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Bettinger|first=Brendan|date=October 12, 2010|title=AFI to Present Morgan Freeman with the Life Achievement Award|url=https://collider.com/morgan-freeman-afi-life-achievement-award/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Collider|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320141722/https://collider.com/morgan-freeman-afi-life-achievement-award/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also appeared in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s historical epic ''[[Amistad (film)|Amistad]]'' alongside [[Djimon Hounsou]], [[Anthony Hopkins]], and [[Matthew McConaughey]]. Based on the events in 1839 aboard the slave ship ''[[La Amistad]]'', the film was mostly well-received and earned four nominations at the Academy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 70th Academy Awards {{!}} 1998|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 5, 2014 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602003041/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998|archive-date=June 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Amistad (1997)|date=December 10, 1997 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amistad|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730182335/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amistad|archive-date=July 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The critic from ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' magazine, however, thought the film lacked inspiration and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Charles|date=December 12, 1997|title=Amistad|url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/1997/12/12amistad.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314163717/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/1997/12/12amistad.html|archive-date=March 14, 2011|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Salon}}</ref> In that same year, he was cast as psychologist Alex Cross in ''[[Kiss the Girls (1997 film)|Kiss the Girls]]'', a thriller based on [[James Patterson]]'s [[Kiss the Girls (novel)|1995 novel]] of the same name. In a mixed review, Peter Stack of ''San Francisco Chronicle'' thought Freeman and co-star [[Ashley Judd]] gave strong performances despite the lengthy plot.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stack|first=Peter|date=October 3, 1997|title=Film Review -- Freeman, Judd Save the 'Girls' / Creepy thriller about sexual sadist|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Freeman-Judd-Save-the-Girls-2826218.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726131756/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Freeman-Judd-Save-the-Girls-2826218.php|archive-date=July 26, 2020|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=SFGate}}</ref>

Freeman went on to star in ''[[Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact]]'' (1998), a science-fiction disaster film in which he played President Tim Beck.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=October 16, 2008|title=Morgan Freeman as President Tim Beck|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2008/10/17/top-10-movie-presidents/slide/morgan-freeman-as-president-tim-beck-1998/|url-status=live|access-date=July 31, 2020|issn=0040-781X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221094101/http://entertainment.time.com/2008/10/17/top-10-movie-presidents/slide/morgan-freeman-as-president-tim-beck-1998/|archive-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> The story depicts humanity's attempt to destroy a 7-mile (11&nbsp;km) wide [[comet]] set to collide with Earth and cause a mass extinction. The film was a box-office hit, despite competition from ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'', another summer blockbuster of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Deep Impact|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3444344321/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726131753/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3444344321/|archive-date=July 26, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Continuing with the disaster genre, he then starred opposite [[Christian Slater]] in 1998's ''[[Hard Rain (film)|Hard Rain]]'', centering on a heist and man-made treachery amidst a [[natural disaster]] in a small [[Indiana]] town. The film was unpopular with critics; [[Lawrence Van Gelder]] of ''The New York Times'' called the characters "one-dimensional" and the film "routine".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Van Gelder|first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Van Gelder |date=January 16, 1998|title=Film Review; Outlook: Stormy (It's Raining, Too)|language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/16/movies/film-review-outlook-stormy-it-s-raining-too.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 26, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320141725/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/16/movies/film-review-outlook-stormy-it-s-raining-too.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Freeman returned to the screen in 2000 with the lead role of Charlie in the comedy ''[[Nurse Betty]]'', featuring [[Renée Zellweger]], [[Chris Rock]], and [[Greg Kinnear]]. The film premiered at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] to mainly positive reviews; the critic from ''Variety'' magazine thought Freeman and Rock had "wonderful chemistry".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Levy|first=Emanuel|date=May 12, 2000|title=Nurse Betty|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/nurse-betty-1200462310/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123190421/https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/nurse-betty-1200462310/|archive-date=January 23, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> Next, he appeared in ''[[Under Suspicion (2000 film)|Under Suspicion]]'' (2000), a thriller remake of the 1981 French film ''[[Garde à vue]]''. The film had been "carting round" for twelve years before Freeman was able to produce it under Revelations Entertainment.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=January 11, 2001|title=BBC - Films - interview - Morgan Freeman|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/01/11/morgan_freeman_under_suspicion_090101_interview.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726162732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/01/11/morgan_freeman_under_suspicion_090101_interview.shtml|archive-date=July 26, 2020|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=BBC}}</ref> He co-starred with [[Gene Hackman]]; "Working with Gene was wonderful. I didn't find it too hard working with an icon I so respected", Freeman said.<ref name=":3" /> Upon release, ''Under Suspicion'' was met with lukewarm reception;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Under Suspicion|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/under-suspicion|work=Metacritic|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320141744/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/under-suspicion|url-status=live}}</ref> [[CNN]]'s Paul Tatara praised the actors but thought the film was "too tawdry to be completely entertaining, and too static to generate much excitement".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tatara|first=Paul|date=September 22, 2000|title=CNN - Entertainment - Compelling, but ... - September 22, 2000|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/22/review.under/index.html|access-date=July 26, 2020|work=CNN|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320141724/https://edition.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/22/review.under/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Morgan Freeman Cannes.jpg|thumb|upright|right|180px|Freeman at the [[2005 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
In 2001, Freeman reprised his role of Alex Cross in ''[[Along Came a Spider (film)|Along Came a Spider]]'', a sequel to 1997's ''Kiss the Girls''. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Along Came a Spider (2001)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/along_came_a_spider|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=April 6, 2001 |language=en|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228084235/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/along_came_a_spider|archive-date=December 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Susan Wloszczyna of ''[[USA Today]]'' observed that "Freeman strides with noble authority" but thought the overall film was unmemorable.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wloszczyna|first=Susan|date=June 4, 2001|title= 'Spider' crawls along without enough venom|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-04-06-along-came-a-spider.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130152753/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-04-06-along-came-a-spider.htm|archive-date=November 30, 2017|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=USA Today}}</ref> In 2002, Freeman was cast opposite [[Ben Affleck]] in the spy thriller ''[[The Sum of All Fears (film)|The Sum of All Fears]]''. It is based on [[Tom Clancy]]'s 1991 [[The Sum of All Fears|novel]] of the same name, about a plot by an Austrian [[Neo-Nazi]] to trigger a [[nuclear war]] between the United States and Russia, so that he can establish a fascist superstate in Europe. ''The Sum of All Fears'' received moderate reviews,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sum of All Fears (2002)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sum_of_all_fears|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=May 31, 2002 |language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> but was a commercial success, grossing $193.9 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sum of All Fears|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2675082753/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726182441/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2675082753/|archive-date=July 26, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Next, Freeman starred alongside Ashley Judd and [[Jim Caviezel]] in ''[[High Crimes]]'' (2002), a legal thriller based on [[Joseph Finder]]'s 1998 novel of the same name. The story follows lawyer Claire (Judd), whose husband (Caviezel) is arrested and placed on trial for the murder of villagers while he was in the [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]]. Although several critics were unimpressed with the story, they credited Freeman and Judd for their chemistry and performances.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Neil|date=October 21, 2002|title=BBC - Films - review - High Crimes|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/07/high_crimes_2002_review.shtml|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|date=April 4, 2002|title='High Crimes': A Guilty Pleasure |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url-access=subscription |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2002/04/05/AR2005033116046.html|access-date=July 26, 2020|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In 2003, Freeman appeared as God in the hit comedy ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'' with [[Jim Carrey]] and [[Jennifer Aniston]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hughes|first=Scott|date=June 20, 2003|title=God - The Hollywood years|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jun/20/artsfeatures|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

Next, he starred in the science fiction horror ''[[Dreamcatcher (2003 film)|Dreamcatcher]]'', adapted from [[Stephen King]]'s 2001 [[Dreamcatcher (novel)|novel]] of the same name. The film was a box-office flop,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dreamcatcher|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0285531/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> and garnered mostly negative reviews; ''Dreamcatcher'' has an approval rating of 28% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dreamcatcher (2003)|date=March 21, 2003 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dreamcatcher|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104120010/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dreamcatcher|archive-date=January 4, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2003, Freeman starred in two other dramas that were not widely seen, ''[[Levity (film)|Levity]]'' and ''[[Guilty by Association (film)|Guilty by Association]].''<ref>{{Cite news |first=A. O. |last=Scott |author-link=A. O. Scott |title=Film in Review: Levity |work=[[The New York Times]] |department=Movies |date=2003-04-04 |page=E30 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/movies/film-in-review-levity.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212205040/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/movies/film-in-review-levity.html |archive-date=2023-12-12 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Patrizio|first=Andy|title=Guilty by Association - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/21/guilty-by-association|work=IGN|date=July 21, 2003 |publication-date=November 24, 2018|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> His 2004 releases were comedy ''[[The Big Bounce (2004 film)|The Big Bounce]]'' and sports drama ''[[Million Dollar Baby]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Big Bounce (2004)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/big_bounce|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=January 29, 2004 |language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Million Dollar Baby (2004)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/million_dollar_baby|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=December 15, 2004 |language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> In the latter, directed by Clint Eastwood, Freeman portrayed an elderly former boxer. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] ([[Hilary Swank]]), and Best Supporting Actor, earning Freeman his first Academy Award.<ref name="actors" /> Freeman was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the same category.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Million Dollar Baby|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/million-dollar-baby|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=www.goldenglobes.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726180818/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/million-dollar-baby|archive-date=July 26, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat and factual" narration,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=December 14, 2004|title=Million Dollar Baby movie review (2005) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/million-dollar-baby-2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725064529/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/million-dollar-baby-2005|archive-date=July 25, 2020|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Roger Ebert|language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Timeout]]'' magazine thought the cast fully inhabited their roles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrew|first=Geoff|date=June 24, 2006|title=Million Dollar Baby|url=https://www.timeout.com/en_gb/film/million-dollar-baby|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727061606/https://www.timeout.com/en_gb/film/million-dollar-baby|archive-date=July 27, 2020|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Time Out Worldwide|language=en}}</ref>