I was hoping Freeman would play the killer’s father instead of the cliche teacher role. The role of mentor/teacher colored person (Mr. Miyagi or Morpheus or Bagger Vance) has been such a safe cliche.

It would be nice if the studios would recognize that it’s possible for a mixed-race African-American Morgan Freeman to have a white-looking child. That would have more resonance and be more thought provoking than this tired cliche. How many roles has freeman played the teacher? He’s done it with Tim Robinson, Keanu Reeves, and Ashley Judd.