The Hurricane (1999) User Reviews

Unexpectedly Great Movie

[kmsairam · 9/10 · 19 February 2001]

I wasn't going to comment, but after reading some of the negative comments, I felt I must. I "waited for the video" for this movie because a movie about boxing didn't seem interesting. But that's just the thing. It's not about boxing. So if you're thinking you're going to see Raging Bull, you're not. There are a few boxing scenes, but they only serve to move the story along.

I have seen this movie more than once. The first time I was touched by the underlying theme of the movie, which was in my opinion, love conquering hate and injustice. Then I watched it again. I realized Denzel did a superb job. It WAS NOT a "typical Denzel role." He convincingly played Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, raised full of hate for and distrust of white people. When he goes to prison for the murder, he does an excellent performance showing the different personalities in his head, as well as showing how his inner spiritual journey transformed him. Any good movie shows the hero growing and changing. And Denzel again does this well towards the end of the movie, after befriending Lazarus and the Canadians. My favorite line which to me sums up the entire movie is when they're waiting to hear the judge's verdict and Rubin tells Lazarus, "Hate got me in here. But love's gonna bust me out."

I don't know much about the real Rubin Carter or the details of the case. What I found compelling about the movie was the fact that some people - be they white or black - can harbor such hatred for another person (I'm referring to Della Pesca's hatred toward Rubin). Another thing that got me was the friendship and love between Rubin and Lesra and the whole message of examining the higher principle of truth for which the law was meant to serve. It's just one of those movies that makes you think. Yeah, some of the writing is "just OK" in places, but the theme of the movie is wonderful and I think Denzel gave an Oscar worthy performance.

I gave this a 9 out of 10.

Rubin Carter 1937-2014

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 28 July 2018]

15 years after The Hurricane came out Rubin Carter passed away still quite the symbol of what can happen when a malignant criminal justice system puts a target on your back and is determined to nail you. The Hurricane became his nickname in the boxing arena given him for the speed and accuracy of the deadly attack in the ring. He was forever Rubin Hurricane Carter even after he fought his last fight.

After his boxing career had wound down he and a friend were picked up in his home town of Patterson, New Jersey because they vaguely resembled two men who had shot up and robbed a bar and killed 3 people. On some flimsy evidence and some evidence withheld Carter and the other man went to jail and probably escaped the death penalty because it wasn't being used at the time.

Besides the background events The Hurricane mostly focuses on the events of Carter trying to clear himself and the young kid who reads the book Carter wrote while he was in prison. The best scenes in the film are Vicellous Shannon as young Lezra and Denzel Washington as Carter.

The Hurricane brought Denzel Washington one of his Oscar nominations and he will keep you riveted on the screen with his intensity. Occasionally Washington boils over, but it's the slow simmering tension he conveys as Carter that really keeps you watching. His scenes with Shannon are a great relief for him as in this kid he meets someone who believes his story and gets what he's about.

Besides Washington and Shannon, performances to watch out for are Rod Steiger as Judge Sarokin who is the federal judge who decides Carter's fate and Dan Hedaya as the incredibly vicious and racist police lieutenant who made incarcerating Carter a life's obsession.

The real Rubin Carter could not have had his story better told than be Denzel Washington in The Hurricane.

Superb performance...

[prateek4261 · 9/10 · 18 April 2008]

I don't really know why people cannot talk without putting terms as "he did it" while thinking about this movie. How racially charged or challenged were those times has been clearly talked about, filmed and factually corrected. Literature, personalities and even a simple man can confirm to those facts and we can really put an end to who did it...or he did it!!! The movie marks the most stellar performance from Denzel Washington as he portrays the character "Hurricane". What surprised and confirmed my earlier thoughts about people rating this movie are that an awful lot of movies in here have better rating than this movie....and the confirmation is that ratings do not matter This movie stands out and lets you feel the passion and focus of a man...not born under normal circumstances but freed under great conditions. I think I am confident enough to say about this movie....if you haven't seen this movie then it doesn't really matter to you what cinema can be and what cinema possibly can create.

Forget the ratings....I think when you're done seeing it, you would decide for yourself what I am trying to say here. Where is the Oscar....ohh did we miss it??? Gladly so.

Denzel Deserved an Oscar

[les6969 · 2 August 2011]

I am not going to get into details regarding how true an account this is or not. I have read a lot that seems to indicate he was guilty and others that he was innocent, both accounts seeing to contradict themselves. I guess we may never really know, but as someone who believes that racism infects a lot of society including organisations like Sporting bodies and the police I can well believe that being black would not guarantee a fair trial. However I also find it hard to believe that Mr Carter was as peaceful a person as depicted in this film. But this is down to the way the film was written and directed and in no way detracts from a truly remarkable piece of acting by Mr Denzel Washington. It seems in every part he plays, you believe that he IS that character and this film was no exception. In the boxing scenes or the prison scenes and in every scene you believe that you are watching Rubin 'The Hurricane' Carter. A truly outstanding performance.

An incredible film, with superb acting

[rosie-54 · 10/10 · 26 January 2000]

Denzel Washington is so convincing as Rubin Carter that one forgets that he is, indeed, an actor playing a role. From the beginning to the end, Denzel is perfect. The film made me think about how poverty and prejudice can ruin a person's life when misfortune, such as being in the wrong place at the wrong time, visits. I didn't think that I could possibly like a movie that I already knew so much about. With boxing in it, yet! But when Denzel received the Golden Globe Award, I felt I had to see it. What a moving experience! Anyone who enjoys superb acting and a story with a rewarding, emotional ending should not miss this film.

Absolutely Awesome !

[desire_911 · 10/10 · 2 August 2008]

This is the greatest true story I've ever seen. I love the emotion in this movie. I really think that the delivery of the performances are what makes it great along with the direction. It's beautiful. I recommend it to any and everyone. The struggle that Ruben Carter endured just puts light on the way things used to be, and makes really grateful that things have improved. Denzel's great!

I completely felt in love with this movie, in which you can find extreme endurance, strong courage, ultimate love and a very realistic character starred by Washington. The character not only shows how powerful spirit a human being can be to survive in harsh situations, how persistent should a man in desperate circumstances, but also bring strong feeling to watchers, who wanna do something better, something higher than what he is currently doing.

The Hurricane is simply one of my best top10 movies of all time.

for Entertainment: 10/10

Overall Score: 10/10

A Powerhouse of a Film. Washington's Best.

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 13 January 2000]

Norman F. Jewison's "The Hurricane" is an exceptional piece of film making. It has good editing, good writing, good scenes, and great acting. Now, the film itself is good, but the acting makes this film outstanding.

Denzel Washington is a terrific actor, and this film proves it (also a golden globe nomination and Academy Award Win in 1989 backs it up). Washington plays Rubin "Hurricane" Carter with such perfection not seen in a very long time. It's his spirit in this movie that gets this film up in the high life.

And Norman F. Jewison, a great Oscar Winning Director who directs this film of the human spirit with great intensity and knowledge of what Carter's life was like. That makes this film one of the best of the year.

Truth be told...

[mcoats-71101 · 6/10 · 11 February 2019]

The miscarriage of justice of Rubin Carter is still, to this day, a heinous crime. Trying to make up for it in a film with so many story errors is ridiculous though. Some of the fight scenes were too "Raging Bull" especially the one v Joey Giardhello which even Carter admitted was a fight he lost after a promising start. It also smooths over his other misdemeanours as a youth which painted him as this more angelic figure. He wasn't! He just wasn't a murderer.

Some of the acting is awful too, apart from Denzel of course. The mouthy kid in the modern day part of the story was too Straight Outta Compton. Maybe it was the 90s but still - why he gotta be like that?? Enjoyable but only just...

Consummate story-telling at its best

[Didne · 10/10 · 5 February 2000]

The Hurricane took me by storm! It is riveting story-telling cutting deeply into our deepest emotions. Finely woven autobiography and historical profiling rolled into one. Denzel Washington plays the role of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter with such utter conviction that it is difficult to remember he is the actor, not the man, himself. I couldn't take my eyes from the screen whenever he was there. Assured direction from Norman Jewison boosts this story from the ordinary bio-pic to a masterpiece of pacing where the audience's emotions are taken on a rollercoaster ride. It's not manipulative of our emotions, as some films can be. The truth of the man's life and times and those who were drawn into his exoneration are moving alone. I found the portrayal of the Canadians much less stereotyped than other non-Canadian productions, although I found myself watching John Hannah who played the Canadian Terry. I'm accustomed to hearing his Scottish accent as I've seen his work in the UK. It's hard not to "see" him in his role in "Four Weddings and a Funeral." The only part I thought was a bit "over-the-top" was the prisoners' reaction to the release of Carter. It felt to me like deja-vu. The most original device was Rubin in isolation his personality battling as he struggles with the conflicts inside himself

Standard biopic and great performance

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 18 May 2014]

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (Denzel Washington) was a prize fighter. In 1966, he was arrested and convicted for a mass shooting at a bar in Paterson, New Jersey. Vindictive police detective Della Pesca (Dan Hedaya) has been after him since he was 11. With falsified evidence and rampant racism, Carter and his friend get locked up for 3 life terms. He sets about writing his biography which is eventually published. Then 7 years later in Toronto, student Lesra (Vicellous Reon Shannon) finds his biography in a pile of used books. He's a poor student from Brooklyn who is given a chance to study in Canada. With the biography, he starts a long journey to get Carter's release and his good name back with the help of his mentors Lisa (Deborah Kara Unger), Sam (Liev Schreiber) and Terry (John Hannah).

It's a very standard biopic from Norman Jewison. Carter's story is never in doubt. Most people would know the ending to the movie. So the tension is not that high. The investigation isn't that exciting. It's no John Grisham novel. However there is a compelling story, and a very compelling performance from Denzel Washington. He is exceptional in this as in many of his performances. There is also a nice side story of a young man who finds purpose in life.

Denzel Washington is superior, a film with a strongly constructed message. ***1/2 out of ****.

[Movie-12 · 8/10 · 7 February 2000]

THE HURRICANE (1999) ***1/2

Starring: Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, John Hannah, Deborah Unger, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Dan Hedaya, Debbi Morgan, Clancy Brown, David Paymer, and Rod Steiger Directed by Norman Jewison. Written by Sam Chaiton. Based on the novel "The 16th Round," by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Running Time: 155 minutes. Rated R (for language and some violence).

By Blake French:

(The following review of "The Hurricane" contains a description plot description that may or may not be of a spoiling nature.)

The most amazing property of Norman Jewison's "The Hurricane" is that it would have been equivalently as powerful, equally as touching, and just as thought-provoking if there never lived a man named Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter. The movie is such a relevant, understandable feature, it has abundant emotional impact on the majority of an appreciative audience regardless if they realize it is based on an actual individual or not. This is one of the best movies of the year. In accordance with its many strong areas it succeeds in, the picture should present itself well when Academy Award time comes around.

"The Hurricane" tells the true story of famous African American middleweight boxing champion named Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The time period is the late 1960's. Rubin spent more of his childhood being incarcerated in one way or another. The past is behind him, however, and Carter has miraculously turned his life around and raised a happy family consisting of a wife and young boy.

A corrupt police force wrongly accuses "The Hurricane" and his friend of murdering several innocent pedestrians when coming home from a party one evening. Det. Vincent Della Pesca, a cruel, racist law enforcer who has been after Rubin since he was a child, demands that Carter and his pal be named the killers. A half dead victim, full of hate towards his shooters, identifies Carter and his acquaintance as the terrorists. After a trail based on stacked lies, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and his buddy are convicted and sentenced to three life sentences in a state prison.

While serving his term, Rubin puts the prison warden a fight it isn't ready for. Carter refuses to wear clothing that other convicts ware; he does not allow himself to be at the same level as others who have committed horrendous crimes. "I've committed no crime, a crime has been committed against me," states Carter in a powerful confrontation sequence. He makes several attempts for acquittal while serving his time--all are eventually denied. Carter eventually loses hope, orders his wife to divorce him, and becomes a strong, hardened prisoner, focusing only serving his time..

For years, Carter's innocent life is wasted away while concealed behind concrete walls. Rubin "Hurricane" Carter decides to write a book about his life experiences. In the book, Carter explains to his readers about the injustice that was served to him, the police corruption with so much malignity towards his race, his life as a child going up in a racist time, and his practice as a professional boxer. That publication, titled "The 16th Round," becomes a bestseller. However, as time passes, it becomes over looked, and forgotten.

This is where the movie's decisive script introduces several new, important characters. Lesra (Vicellous Reon Shannon), an African American teenager living with his Canadian foster parents, Sam Chaiton (Liev Schreiber), Terry Swinton (John Hannah), and Lisa Peters (Deborah Unger). One day, Lesra randomly picks up a book and it just so happens to be "The 16th Round." After reading it, and being emotionally touched, he begins to plead with his foster parents to help Carter fight for his redemption.

It is unusual and risky for a film to open a new series of events so far into the plot. However, "The Hurricane" contains character development among the year's best. Most of the production is spent explaining Rubin Carter to us in one way or another, which is why, as the story progresses, we care more and more about him. His development is not necessarily in a certain order, which is understandable here. The structure within the characters presents itself in a non-conventional approach. To my surprise, the narrative point of view, although about a specific character, is more omniscient than a first person like you'd expect.

Denzel Washington recently won a well-deserved Golden Globe award for his portrayal of Rubin Carter. He performs his character with a strong emotional foundation and realistic, vivid details. These qualities are what makes the character so empathetic. Also contributing fine performances are Liev Schreiber, John Hannah, Deborah Unger and Vicellous Reon Shannon, all with solid supporting roles.

Many of the scenes in "The Hurricane" come off as a little on the gentle side. Obviously the filmmakers believe in the theory about catching more flies with honey than sugar. Though the film still packs a powerful message, with such material, director Norman Jewison should have taken a more aggressive approach towards the movie's concepts, such as racism, corruption, and injustice. This somewhat mild advance on us displaces the film on a level just short of profound.

The film's theme of action propels the screenplay along a lengthy road of focused dramatic tension. Also furnishing the picture's visual narrative style, "The Hurricane" embodies superlative dialogue that is on the level of merit equal to a lesser "Forrest Gump." The actions and dialogue support each other here, constructing a strongly structured production.

"The Hurricane" is more about racism than injustice, more thematic in nature than subjective. It proves a solid moral about what society is like. A point that is powerful and touching because of its strong development...but also saddening because it's true.

Brought to you by Universal Pictures.

The Hurricane not a TKO

[djderka · 6/10 · 17 April 2011]

That this movie is finely crafted is beyond doubt. The acting is good, and it is nicely photographed and edited, but when it belies the truth it drops several notches down.

According to many posters and factual material, the story line takes great liberty with the facts of Carter's life. A similar story was told in I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG with Paul Muni. Innocent man goes to jail, escapes, gets caught, goes back to jail. Only he was innocent and Carter seems guilty of a lot of antisocial activity.

In a sense the movie is racist because it portrays facts that are seemingly untrue for dramatic effect and to sell the film to "gullible" audiences searching for racism everywhere.

One of the lines in the movie is by the kid who is "adopted" by the Canadian couple, "are you helping me because I am black or do you have pity for me", all too often the answer is yes, which is a demeaning attitude.

During an interview, Tracy from SNL, was asked about Loren Michael hiring him and he said that Loren said, " I am hiring you because you are funny, not because you are black," and Tracy said that made all the difference to him in his career.

This movie really serves to fan the fires of injustice not to shed light on it. In the Heat of the Night and The Shawshank Redemption are much better examples of racial injustice and interracial friendships.

Perhaps if were called Round One, and been totally fictional it would have been more inspiring.

good old-fashioned entertainment

[fiennes1 · 16 January 2000]

Jewison's film is an old-fashioned biopic, complete with pivotal backstory, voiceover narration, and a character who enters the protagonist's life and changes it immeasurably. It's one of those stand-up-and-cheer movies where everyone seems to be against the hero, but above all odds (and with more than a little help from some of his friends), he rises above The System and gets his belated due. It's an oft-used scenario, with many scenes that could easily have been taken from Jewison's other films A SOLDIER'S STORY or IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. Yet despite the familiarity of the storyline, I'll be damned if I wasn't choking back tears of elation at the movie's triumphant conclusion. It's a masterful piece of filmmaking that proves Norman Jewison's skill as a director, as he transcends the cliche-bound script and, with the help of Washington and company, makes it a powerful entity all its own.

As the Hurricane, Denzel Washington proves he is one of the best actors (if not THE best) in the business today. He can run the gamut from cold hatred to hearty laughter like few others can. He brings dignity and class to every one of his pictures (he was the only thing worth watching in THE BONE COLLECTOR). Here, he makes you FEEL every single thing he's feeling. In times of righteous indignation, you feel morally outraged alongside him. When he's at his most vulnerable, you can feel your throat constricting and your eyes watering. He has an uncanny knack for reaching into your soul and making you part of the picture itself; it's almost as if he's channelling the viewer while acting. Other actors delight in wowing the audience with grand theatrics and histrionics, but neglect to make the audience care; Denzel is usually soft-spoken and low-key, but always holds your attention.

In summary, THE HURRICANE was one of the most exhilarating motion picture experiences I've had all year. Norman Jewison directs with a deft surehandedness reminiscent of his late 1960s/early 1970s glory years, Denzel Washington delivers perhaps the most awe-inspiring performance of the year, and the audience goes home happy and feeling good about themselves and the world. What more could be asked for?

If it weren't true, who would believe it?

[rondine · 10/10 · 18 January 2000]

This is an incredible story that should've been brought to the screen earlier. Yet it is enough recent history to make the viewer think, this happened while I was alive! Such injustice and racism in our time seems inconceivable to the enlightened mind. Yet I am reminded of racism when reading a reviewer saying that Spike Lee should've directed instead of Norman Jewison based soley on the color of his skin. Isn't that exactly what's wrong with racism? Making judgements based on a person's skin color? I thought Norman Jewison did a great job of directing this. Most of all, Denzel. What can I say, except that his acting isn't acting. It is the truest, purest and most sincere form of allowing someone to see into your soul. When I watch him it is my feelings that are dredged up, wrought out of me. I know watching him, that it is real and that's what makes it real for me, for the audience. That's why he should be this year's best actor- because he is it for not just a year, but always. Back to his screen debut in "Carbon Copy" where you could see his potential which has come to fruition. Awesome movie! You must see it to believe that there are still people this good in the world.

Great director. Great actor. Great Movie.

[sfgiantkwok · 10/10 · 25 December 1999]

Denzel Washington is the greatest actor of our decade. This movie only confirms that. The guy can play any type of character from slave to civil rights leader. From crippled cop to wrongly-accused boxer. He can do anything well. He makes bad movies good. This movie is tremendous. Norman Jewison's direction is comparable to his "In the Heat of the Night." Great director. Great actor. Great Movie.

Great performance Good film

[paudieconnolly · 7/10 · 3 October 2019]

Denzel Washington is brilliant in the film in every scene. It's a crazy and interesting story. So should have all the ingredients to be a great film instead what the filmmakers have left you with is a good film with an amazing performance.

A movie that got my attention from start to end.

[talpel · 10/10 · 12 February 2000]

It hard to imagine that this movie could really happened to one of us, hard to think that this movie is based on a true story...but it is...and got my attention from start to end. Denzel Washington gives a great performance, he makes you believe he's Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. It`s a movie that you must see!!!

Too manipulative, even with Denzel

[Richard-192 · 6/10 · 31 July 2000]

I finished watching The Hurricane on video last night and felt vaguely uncomfortable. What was the problem?

After some thought, I realize that I felt highly manipulated by a poor script.

I am not a racist, but I don't like Hollywood's manipulation of a movie into what is really a racist view. The movie script makes almost all the characters out as caricatures of racism. The whites are either so purely evil or so purely altruistic that I found myself very discomforted. They're not real characters at all, with mixed motivations and feelings. The movie, in a sense, is racist in it's presentation of a difficult subject. It missed an opportunity to tell a deeper, more thought provoking story.

Hurricane Carter is played well by Denzel. Not Oscar material, but good.

What's disappointing is the degree to which the general population is easily manipulated by Hollywood's view of what should sell, what is Politically Correct and what we should feel and think.

Why couldn't a more realistic story be told, leaving viewers with more serious questions, like: What would I have done? Was there racism or was there judicial incompetence? Where was the truth? Who else would have had motivation for the murders?

Why is there so little criticism of this script and manipulation?

Justice MIA

[damianphelps · 7/10 · 24 April 2021]

I feel awkward saying how much I enjoyed the story and the movie when it's unfortunately based on a true story.

Denzel obliterates the viewer once again with a scintillating outing in the titular role.

If you don't know how the story plays out for real (which I didn't) then the movie is a rollercoaster of emotions and heart breaking events.

Whilst I felt considerable sympathy for Hurricane and his pain, I didn't find him a particularly likeable character. So I was rooting for some justice rather than the man.

Great Film - Go See It

[cibulsks-2 · 10/10 · 8 January 2000]

Great Film. Denzel Shined, he is sure to be nominated for an AA. Vicellous Reon Shannon as Lesra Martin helped. Dan Hedaya was great, as the man to hate.

Films like this reach deep because they show the best and worst of humanity. How dare a man in America, land of the free, spend 22 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, because of hatred? How great it is, that people fight to free those prisoners!

The worst crime, is that these crimes continue to happen today. Why?

Outline is fine, but movie as a whole could have been much better.

[sahuneeraj · 7/10 · 21 August 2020]

As we all know, Filmmakers do take creative liberties and only God how much they have taken in this one. I don't know how true the events are. It is generally somebody's words against somebody else's. But as a movie it could have been so much better. Apart from Denzel Washington, most of the remaining cast looked out of sorts as far as acting is concerned. They ruined some of the scenes which could have been very engaging, the scenes were not as moving as the writers of the movie might have imagined. Bob Dylan's song is used very neatly. Historical data like pictures have also been used very carefully. On the whole, i would recommend this movie, but request you to not have very high hopes of it being a very good movie per se.

An enjoyable film but suffers from being too black and white (if you can excuse the pun)

[bob the moo · 10 July 2004]

Framed by a white cop for a murder he didn't commit, boxer Ruben 'Hurricane' Carter tries to free himself from the constrains of his cell mentally by studying, picking over his case and writing his autobiography. Seven years later, Carter is still in prison with appeal after appeal being turned down, but his book has found its way into the hands a young student, Lesra who is inspired to study by the lessons in his book. As the two get to know one another through letters and meetings, Lesra and his teachers devote themselves to getting Carter freedom through a successful appeal.

Despite the fact that the basics of the story is interesting and compelling, this film only manages to be reasonable entertaining rather than compelling because it never really goes deeper than the basics. The story of a man wrongfully imprisoning and yet, somehow, overcoming that is going to be worth a look as it offers enough human interest for me to give it a try, but the problem here is that the film will give you a very basic look at the story and this basic feel will stop you getting involved in the story and maybe even make you wonder how much of it has been simplified down. Enough elements of the film remain interesting to cover this gap though and the character of Carter is interesting and semi-inspiring as he is portrayed here; I say 'as portrayed here' because I do not know how real this person I have seen here is. Part of the problem may be Jewison himself as his background is of a time where things could be as simple as, literally, black and white – but he brings that view to this movie and the story (and even the truth) appear to suffer as a result.

In Jewison's world there is no complex issues, no legal technicalities, no nothing – there is only a good black man who has been framed by bitter, racist cops even though everything points to his innocence; and boy, does Jewison spread it on thick! We trace Paterson's hatred of Carter all the way back to childhood and a scene where he comments on Carter's boxing fame just so we are totally clear that he wanted Carter more than anything! It's a real shame because the truth must be more interesting than this, although I imagine a lot more complex and for the film to just present such a clear cut and simplistic view of real life events not only insults the intelligence of the audience, it also does a disservice to the real life events it represents.

The cast are a big reason most of the film is interesting, or rather Denzel is a big reason it works. How close his Carter is to the real Carter is anyone's guess but his dialogue and his performance are both great. Washington made me believe this man's inner struggle by looks, words, tone of voice – this is the performance he deserved his Oscar for, not the more showy (and less controversial) one in Training Day. Shannon is also good even if he is far from central to the film. Unger, Schreiber and Hannah have clearly been told to play 'non-threatening white people' and they are all about as bland as a collection of people as I have seen. There is no meat on their characters and, as a result the three just play them very simple, basic and far too 'nice' to be believable; I'm not suggesting we have more detail on their lives but there was nothing to them whatsoever – a real problem when they are asked to carry some scenes near the end by themselves. Hedaya gets paid with a lazy 'racist cop' role that he can do nothing with, while Brown is OK in a return to his Shawshank role. Pastore, Steiger, Yulin and Paymer all add the feeling of depth in minor roles but really this is Washington's film and he is a big reason I found it entertaining.

Overall this was potentially an interesting, compelling and emotional film based on an intriguing real life story of injustice. However the script simplifies the story and characters to the point of being almost a version for people in a rush or without the intelligence to understand more. I cannot understand why the film just brushed past areas that would have made it more interesting (albeit more morally complex) and Jewison is to blame for a film that is very black and white in the portrayal of circumstances and its characters. Washington's performance and well written dialogue makes the film worth seeing but I was surprised by the film's ability to take an interesting and compelling story and simplify it to the point of lacking any real punch (sorry – he starts with a pun and he ends with a pun!). Watch once but there are much better examples of the genre and much better sources for hearing Carter's story.

Fighting for the right to live

[IrateTyrant · 8/10 · 3 December 2022]

The performance by Denzel Washington in this Spike Lee movie was very effective, despite expectations. The horrors of the reality that this is based on a true story are troubling, but the story and plot deliver us through the telling of a story about the problems of society and the need to remain strong through the roughest of them. I saw this movie while I was expelled from my high school for a fistfight which happened in the hallway. It taught me a lot about life at the time, and Denzel's performance is great. The soundtrack is amazing as well, and a lot of people pooled together to tell this true story.

A film about Ruben Hurricane Carter's attempt to overcome his false imprisonment.

[Dr. Mike-3 · 10/10 · 3 January 2000]

Possibly the best film of 1999. Denzel Washington is brilliant. When an actor of his stature is on screen, and you see his character as opposed to his celebrity, you know that Washington has done a good job. Predict a second Oscar for Washington. Film is nearly as good as he is.

Denzel is a knockout

[mjw2305 · 7/10 · 14 January 2007]

This is the story of a once promising prizefighter called Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, who is unjustly convicted of a brutal crime. During his two decades of incarceration, a group of supporters refused to let the fight end, giving everything to help him fight for freedom.

The movie is based on true events as told by Rubin Carter himself, he was released in 1985 but he was never actually exonerated of any crimes, and the debate surrounding his guilt is very easy to access via many websites, so i do treat this film as fiction not fact.

Whatever the real truth is, for me it didn't distract me from what is a very powerful and intriguing film; and Denzel Washington is simply fantastic throughout.

It is a great film, but it's better to think of it as fiction 7/10