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We've all seen stories of men imprisoned for crimes they did
not commit. The Hurricane could simply have been another one
of these predictable affairs. However, Denzel Washington delivers
a powerhouse Academy Award nominated performance that turns this
movie into a stirring and inspirational experience.
This movie is based on the true story of Rubin 'Hurricane'
Carter, a boxing champ who was imprisoned in the 1960s for a
crime that he did not commit. The movie traces his early childhood
and rise to boxing champion, his clashes with bigotted policeman
Della Pasca (Dan Hedaya), and how he deals with his time inside.
We also see the story of Lesra Martin (Vicellous Shannon), a
young man who is inspired after reading the book The Sixteenth
Round which Carter wrote while in prison. Lesra starts to write
to Carter and visits him and soon convinces his Canadian friends
to help with Carter's seemingly fruitless appeals regarding
his sentence.
As this is a true story there is none of the usual courtroom
suspense as the story of what happens to Rubin Carter is well
known. Where this movie wins in the portrayal of what oppression
and adversity can do the human spirit. Denzel Washington is
magnificent as the proud strong boxer who seems to have the
odds stacked against him but seems to gain in dignity while
he is incarcerated. I do not know whether the real Rubin Carter
is as great a man as the martyr portrayed by Washington (he
almost seems to be modelled on a Nelson Mandela type character),
but this does not detract from the impact of the movie.
The main weak link that stops The Hurricane from being really
brilliant is Lesra's group of Canadian friends. It is never
really made clear who they are or why they uproot their entire
lives in order to help Carter. While we are shown clearly the
bond that develops between Lesra and Carter the motivation of
the Canadians remains mysterious.
A powerful and inspirational movie. Especially worth seeing
if you think YOU are being treated a bit unfairly at the moment.
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