The Hurricane (1999)

The story of a boxer, wrongly convicted of murder, and his quest for freedom.

Based on the real life of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who was a promising prize fighter, who overcame major prejudices in his life in order to become one of the best fighters. Far from being a saint, Rubin’s fast fists had seen him in more than enough trouble with law, in particular one detective (played by Dan Hedaya), who goes out of his way to throw the young upstart in the slammer with every chance he gets.

One night, a violent murder takes place, and Rubin (on the way home from a party) is found by the police, matching the description of “two black guys in a car”. He is subsequently thrown in jail, and later convicted of murder. His defiant pleas of innocence include him refusing to wear the “guilty” uniforms of other prisoners, and using his long stretch behind bars to write a book about his life. This book goes on to inspire a struggling young black boy, who has been taken in by friendly white Canadians, who all end up becoming Rubin’s most vehement supporters.

Balancing the difficult line of racial separation in America during the past fifty years, the film adds enough punch behind its messages, without bludgeoning the audience with preachy symbolism. Denzel Washington plays Rubin spectacularly, taking on the varying personas which engulf the boxer’s adult life: from cocky celebrity, to wise victim, and we see enough emotion and development from Washington to give over the complex issues being played out.

This film is not about the plight of the African American (although there is some of that), it is more about the search for freedom in what seems an unjust world.

Entertaining to watch, with some great tracks, including Bob Dylan’s brilliant song of the same name about the same person. Not as much boxing as some of the other sporting films out there, but plenty of meaty plot and complex social exploration.