Street Smart (1987)

A reporter (Christopher Reeve) for a New York magazine is under pressure from his publisher (Andre Gregory) to complete a story about a day in the life of a pimp. But when he can't get any cooperation from authentic pimps, he fabricates a story which is a sensation when published. But it doesn't end there when the District Attorney's office believes that the journalist was actually writing about a pimp (Morgan Freeman in an Oscar nominated performance) who is suspected of murder. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg (PUZZLE OF A DOWNFALL CHILD). While Reeve gives an accomplished performance, the movie is stolen by Morgan Freeman's (in his breakthrough role) pimp and Kathy Baker as a prostitute in his stable. Freeman is astounding here in what could have been a stereotypical performance in the hands of a lesser actor. The movie received good reviews and while Freeman went on to a major career, Kathy Baker didn't get the career she deserved based on her work here. It's a good movie that's elevated by those two performances and doesn't glamorize the pimps and hookers. With Mimi Rogers, Jay Patterson and Anna Maria Horsford.