Entitled "Hurricane" and whirling with hype, the
film is good, but doesn't quite pack the stormy punch
you'd rightfully have anticipated. Less a fight
movie, and more a quiet emotional story of one man's
endurance in the face of racism and injustice.
In a black and white 1966 clip, boxer Ruben
"Hurricane" Carter muscles his helpless competitor to
the canvas, woven into this sequence is a color 1974
sequence in which an imprisoned Carter prepares to
defend himself against reactionary guards. An
excellent introduction after which the film
experiences an early lull of about a half-hour. Also
the caption "7 years later" appears on the screen
confusing the time line issue (7 years from '66 or
'74?).
Carter's autobiography serves as a convenient way
to cover past history. The stuttering stubborn boy
who plays a child Ruben Carter sets the stage well
for the experienced Washington who is very good, but
never breaks loose (performance speaking). An hour or
so into the film, a black teen (Lesra) home-schooled
by three white communal Canadians, becomes engrossed
in Carter's book "The 16th Round." This is when we as
an audience are given a sympathetic eye through which
to view the drama. No longer innocent by-standers, we
become drawn into the ring by Lesras' passion and
compassion. It's the relationship between Ruben and
Lesra that gives "Hurricane" its thunder.
"Hate put me in prison, Love's gonna bust me out."
The picture is seldom short of this kind of schmaltz
and Ruben is nearly always shown in a virtual angelic
light. Still, "Hurricane" endears, its positive
message strongly resonating.
|