Sometimes movies based on true stories can lead a captivated audience into

a disappointing and predictable plot.

The Hurricane not only capt

ures the viewer’s attention, it transcends the racially-charged storyline

into a level of basic conscience and diminishes this common idea.

Denzel

Washington is Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a dedicated boxer with dreams of

receiving a middleweight boxing ti

tle. Driven by his desire to escape his past in the New Jersey prison

system, Carter uses hate to become untouchable in the boxing ring.

His

plans are shortly halted when he is accused of the murder of three people

in a bar after his release. Carter is s

entenced to three consecutive life terms. His journey for true justice

begins.

While in prison Carter channels his energy into writing an

autobiography, a move he believes will earn him freedom. Disappointingly,

it does not. What the does do, however, is

spark the interest of young Lesera Martin (Vicellous Reon Shannon), an

American teen on his own journey of self-discovery, and three Canadian

activists (John Hannah, Deborah Kara Unger and Liev Schreiber). They soon

make it their mission to free “The Hur

ricane.”

The major standouts in the film are Washington and Shannon.

Washington convincingly portrays Carter as a man who is continuously

battling his inner demons, only to find the hope and justice he has

searched for years in the eyes of Lesera.

Near

the end of the film Carter proclaims, “Hate put me in prison, love is gonna

bust me out.”

Directed by Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night), The

Hurricane uses flashbacks to allow the audience further understanding into

the characters’ backgrounds. T

he black-and-white boxing scenes are especially exciting. Washington, who

trained for one year and did all of his stunts, could have been a boxer in

another life. Some of his punches are so fast the screen blurs.

Based on

The Sixteenth Round, by Rubin “H

urricane” Carter, and Lazarus and the Hurricane, by Sam Chaiton and Terry

Swinton, The Hurricane is a film that contains richness and complexity,

despite its length.

If the audience can walk out of the theater at least

pondering the life lessons that too

k Carter 20 years to learn, then a trip to the cinema is definitely worth

it.