4. Ned Logan - Unforgiven
Unforgiven is hardly a movie short of great performances. Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Jaimz Woolvett are all excellent, but amongst all the macho charisma and veteran starpower, Freeman's performance is the one with true magnetism. Eastwood's homage to Sergio Leone still remains his finest effort as a director as it is anchored by strong performances and a solid script. In amongst this world of hatred, ego and revenge, Freeman's Ned Logan remains calm and wise, balancing out the snarling anger of Eastwood and Hackman. Freeman's ageing gunfighter isn't cool and doesn't have an abundance of quotable lines but he brings realism and heart to the movie. He is reluctant to leave his wife to join Eastwood on his quest and doesn't seem to have the stomach for the fight anymore. Even though it was inevitable, when his death comes, it has a tremendous impact as he is the one character you could really warm to. It's a brutal, violent film and perhaps the last great western.