The Hurricane (1999)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers (WGA):

Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter (book)
Sam Chaiton (book) ...

Release Date:

14 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based on the inspirational true story of a champion.

Plot:

The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.

Plot Keywords:

African American | Murder | Boxing | Boxer | Book

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter
Vicellous Reon Shannon	...	Lesra Martin
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Lisa Peters
Liev Schreiber	...	Sam Chaiton
John Hannah	...	Terry Swinton
Dan Hedaya	...	Det. Sgt. Della Pesca
Debbi Morgan	...	Mae Thelma Carter
Clancy Brown	...	Lt. Jimmy Williams
David Paymer	...	Myron Bedlock
Harris Yulin	...	Leon Friedman
Rod Steiger	...	Judge Sarokin
Badja Djola	...	Mobutu
Vincent Pastore	...	Alfred Bello
Al Waxman	...	Warden at Rahway Penitentiary
David Lansbury	...	U.S. Court Prosecutor

Also Known As:

Lazarus and the Hurricane (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R (certificate #36908) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG (cut) | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

East Jersey State Prison, Avenel, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Azoff Entertainment

Trivia:

Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter was actually discharged from the military after four courts martial (after just 21 months' service), though the movie shows him as a returning hero.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The final scene looks like Foley Square - downtown NY with the New York City Hall in the background - not anyplace in New Jersey, where Sarokin would be sitting.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, this fine young fighter will be right here in Pittsburg on the boxing cog, this Monday night.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hurricane

good old-fashioned entertainment

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?