The Hurricane
Studio: Universal Studios Year: 1999 US Rating: R - Language And Some Violence Film Length: 2hr 26minutes Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Video Resolution/Codec: 1080p/VC-1 Audio: English Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, French Dolby Digital Plus 2.0 Subtitles: Optional English SDH and French |
US Release Date: August 28, 2007
The Film -
out of
The Film -
out of “I have committed no crime; crime has been committed against me”
In America, the disparity in the way African Americans have been treated by law enforcement and the justice system has wrought a terrible toll through the years. Every incident of racial profiling carries the weight of betrayal of a person’s rights and becomes another layer of mistrust between those that are supposed to serve and protect and the communities they pledge to serve. Every false and disproportionate verdict levied against an African American is another failure of the grand idea of America, and another family irrevocably harmed by its injustice. In Norman Jewison’s fine film, The Hurricane, we explore one such notorious incident of a judicial miscarriage. Rubin Carter (Denzel Washington), known professionally in the Boxing world as the ‘Hurricane’ was arrested, convicted and sentenced to three times life for murders he did not commit. The film is based on the books ‘Lazarus and the Hurricane’ by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton and ‘The 16th Round by Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter himself, and covers almost 40 years in the life of this talented boxer. Covering events as far back as Carter when he was just a boy of 11, director Jewison unfolds the story in a rather non linear method, introducing us to Carter in the ring when he knocked out the then World Champion in the first round, before jumping to his days in prison, then back to his arrest and so forth. The story is intense and quite fascinating and is told from a couple of points of view. Denzel provides narration, telling the story from Carter’s perspective, before it changes to the perspective of a sixteen year old kid from Brooklyn, Lesra Martin (played by Vicellous Reon Shannon) who was inspired by the Carter’s story when he reads a used copy of his book, ‘The 16th Round’.
The relationship that builds between Carter and the young Lesra drives a good portion of the film, and through this relationship we are able to explore the steely mindset Carter instilled in himself to survive his time in prison. But we also see, through the developing connection, just how much Carter needed the love and hope from those on the outside, even when ‘to hope’ was dangerous. Lesra, with the help of his Canadian guardians, worked indelibly to uncover some evidence, some small fact that could be used to reopen the case. Carter had received two trials and each had found him guilty. Even his appeals to New Jersey’s Supreme Court were denied, but these individuals, and the lawyers that had labored for 10 years, pro bono, never gave up.
Rubin Carter spent a good portion of his youth in a correction facility, before escaping and joining the military, where he learned and honed his remarkable boxing talents. The racism pervasive in law enforcement, before and during the civil rights movement, was in no uncertain terms attributable to his angry and violent upbringing. In the film, the many officers in the police force that either gave no chances or lied to punish Carter are consolidated into one man in particular, Det. Sgt. Della Pesca played by Dan Hedaya. The ruthlessness of this character’s pursuit of Carter condenses into a single person the unyielding blue arm of the law as it sought to sweep into prisons young African American boys and men.
Director Norman Jewison has woven together a complex story that covers many decades, with expertise that allowed the core of the story, a struggle for Justice, to come to the surface and easily be followed. There is real skill in how this story unfolds. Multiple interconnected pieces of story from the same single narrative, that moves in and out of decades and key events with a strong, gripping flow. Denzel Washington, in a Golden Globe winning performance, inhabits the very soul of Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. Playing this man as a fit, young fighter all the way through many years to the triumphant close of the film, Washington demonstrates a veritable mastery of the acting art. Both powerful and fragile, the essence of the man who suffered incalculable injustice, fighting the world within and without with every fiber of his being, is laid bare in Washington’s portrayal. As Lesra, Vicellous Reon Shannon is quite capable and Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber and John Hannah, as the three Canadian guardians, each display an element of well-meaning innocence, serving as an interesting counterpoint to the turmoil of those in prison.
The story will certainly boil the blood. But more terrifying than the knowledge of this particular story is the realization that this is but one story among countless many; one that may have raised the anger of many, including Bob Dylan who wrote a terrific song that brought to the world the story of what happened to Rubin. Just how many men and women find themselves on the unforgiving and unfair receiving end of so called ‘justice’. How many more men and women will be taken from their families and thrown into the penal system for crimes they did not commit. Or sent there because they are black and for no other reason? When I read statistics that tell me that in at least 15 states, black men were 20 to 57 times more likely to be sent to prison for drug related charges than whites*, or that, nationwide, young black offenders will be transferred to adult court at a rate more than twice that of whites**, I am disgusted.
The Hurricane is an absorbing and touching film of a heartbreaking and brave struggle to let the truth be known and a man to be set free. The outstanding performance of Denzel Washington may have provided this story access to a broader audience, but this is a film that should be seen as a reminder that though it may be ignored by the masses, injustice and inequality for African Americans is far from over and the demand that this issue has for our attention is greater than ever.
The Video - 
out of
out of The Hurricane comes to us from Universal Studios, presented in its original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 in 1080p High Definition and VC-1 encoded. Generally speaking this is a good transfer, with plenty of great definition in the image, notably close-ups of Denzel and deep black levels in many of the shadowy night and prison scenes. But there are weaknesses too. Exterior shots, particularly transition or establishing shots that capture the sky show a lot of mosquito noise and a very video like quality. Bright lights seem to present an issue at times. But these distractions aside, the transfer has a great deal going for it and those upgrading from standard DVD will not be disappointed.
The Sound - out of
out of With an English Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound audio option and a French 2.0, The Hurricane comes through with a great deal of mood and atmosphere. It is a quiet movie in many respects, with Denzel’s narration, multiple conversations and Christopher Young’s brooding and soulful score providing most of what you hear. The boxing flashback scenes are the films only real opportunity to play with the surrounds outside of the music and it does a fine job. The center channel that carries the narration and dialogue is crisp and very natural also.
The Extra’s - out of
out of Feature Commentary with Director Norman Jewison : – Norman Jewison clearly holds up this film as a proud accomplishment. There is a sense during the commentary for his film that he served a greater purpose than just simply making a film. He provides comments on the decisions to inter-cut segments from Rubin Carters life to tell the story and set the right tone for the narrative. He shares his thoughts on the strengths of the cast and crew and openly defends some of the more controversial choices he made with the film, such as consolidating the number of Canadians living in the commune down to three and the many adversarial police into Dan Hedaya’s character.
Spotlight on Location: The Making of The Hurricane : – (20:05) – For films where the subject matter is based on real events and people, it is always fascinating to be able to meet the real people behind the story and we get a glimpse of them with this 20 minute ‘making of’. We get to see interviews with the real Lesra and Rubin Carter himself, in addition to the director and cast members.
Deleted Scenes with Special Introduction by the Director : – (20:18) – Perhaps a little verbose, Norman Jewison remains interesting as he provides an introduction before each of five scenes removed from the final theatrical cut. He is very honest about the reasons he cut the scenes and open about his thoughts on regretting that decision in one particular case.
Theatrical Trailer : – (2:31)
Final Thoughts
It has been a couple of days since I watched this film on HD-DVD and the two elements that echo inside me are the cruel injustice perpetrated on the eloquent and incredibly strong Rubin Carter, and the brilliant performance by Denzel Washington. The system of inequality in not only the court system, but in almost every facet of American life runs from the slight to the extreme, but it seems to always exist. For millions of Americans for whom this is not a part of everyday life, ignorance can seem like bliss. But films like The Hurricane give each of us a moment of pause; time to think about what is happening in this country and just how intolerable it is. This film is a reminder of what has and does still happen to people throughout the nation because of prejudice and racism. It is a powerful reminder and a powerful film.
* www.hrw.org – April 2003
** www.juvjustice.org
Overall Score - out of
out of Neil Middlemiss
Kernersville, NC
