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Championed
and then abandoned
by celebrities, railroaded
by a racist justice system, and finally released only to be replaced
on the pop-culture merry-go-round by a dreadlocked
radio host, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
finally gets his rightful day in the sun this winter with the release
of Norman Jewison's "The
Hurricane" and two
new biographies
of the boxer convicted of a crime he did not commit.
"Hurricane" star Denzel
Washington, who reportedly showed a DeNiro-like
commitment to his role as the fallen
boxer, has used the occasion of the film's release to lobby
for an end to discrimination against actors of color in Hollywood,
including the Oscars selection process. Both Washington and costar
Deborah Unger criticized
the R rating given to the film. Some film critics charge that Jewison
has turned an otherwise-compelling true-life
tale into several reels of sentimental
pap that avoid
hard questions, distort key
facts and refrain from drawing
parallels to the Mumia Abu-Jamal case.
Still, many more
reviewers have been impressed
by the
film than have taken
it to task. And no matter how loud the cultural static surrounding
the Rubin
Carter renaissance turns out to be, one wonderful fact comes
through clearly: The man in question is alive and well and on hand
to enjoy the ride. At the very least, he deserves to bask
in the spotlight one more time.
Frank
Sennett
 Newcity.com
affiliates pass judgment on "The Hurricane":
CARTER'S COUNTY
Rubin Carter screens "The Hurricane" for inmates at the infamous Cook County
Jail
HYPE & HURRICANE
Whose history is it anyway?
TRIPLE
THREAT
He spent 20 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Now two
books and a movie examine the champ whom love set free.
THE
20-YEAR ROUND
Norman Jewison tells Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's story powerfully
and with a steady gaze
CLUMSY HANDS
"The Hurricane" succeeds only on the strength of Denzel Washington's
mesmerizing performance
HURRICANE
FORCED
The compelling story of "The Hurricane" is jammed into a too-familiar
package
PERFECT MIX
Norman Jewison takes two of film's oldest genres, the biopic and
detective story, and energizes them in "The Hurricane"
TOO
MANY ROUNDS
Despite torrents of critical acclaim that continue to patter down
like earlobes in a Tyson match, "The Hurricane" feels overlong and
underscripted
BUDDHA
IN A 10-FOOT CELL
Heady performances keep heavy "Hurricane" together
RIDE THE WHIRLWIND
"The Hurricane" simplifies a complex case
MOVIEMADE
MARTYR
Denzel Washington's explosive performance puts a powerful face on
"The Hurricane"
NATURAL DISASTER
How many cultural icons can Denzel Washington portray before we
tire of this saintly typecasting?
STUNNING
VICTORY
Inspiring, engrossing and compelling, "The Hurricane" is one of
those personal triumph movies that makes people stand up and cheer
STORM
WARNING
Rubin Carter's story is intensely engaging; unfortunately, "The
Hurricane" captures just about  none
of its intrigue
MISSED PUNCHES
"The Hurricane" isn't as inspiring as Rubin Carter's real-life story
WHITE
KNUCKLES
In Norman Jewison's "The Hurricane," license with the truth isn't
poetic; it's pernicious
ROCK
YOU LIKE A HURRICANE
Denzel Washington delivers the acting goods as imprisoned boxer
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
BLOWN
Denzel notwithstanding, "The Hurricane" is more gust than gale
STORMY WEATHER
Hurricane Carter's fight for justice may be over, but his biographers
are still dueling over the truth
EYE OF THE
STORM
Denzel Washington shines in "The Hurricane"
TKO
"Hurricane" will knock out viewers, especially with its lead performance
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