The Hurricane is the tale of the heroic struggle of a human being to find justice. It is the shameful exposure of the so-called privileged race of people, of their prejudice against another group of human beings who had been persecuted and abused from time immemorial. It is based on a true story about Rubin ’’Hurricane’’ Carter, a black man contending for the middle weight championship for boxing, who was falsely implicated for the murders he did not commit and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The screenplay has been adapted from two books, The Sixteenth Round, an autobiography written by Carter while he was in prison and Lazarus and the Hurricane written by two Canadians who endeavoured hard for his release from prison. The adaptation successfully throws light on the power of heart, how it can, with perseverance, achieve a peerless and resounding victory. It portrays Carter (Denzel Washington) as an eloquent, intelligent and amazing person, who trains himself to survive the inhuman and austere atmosphere of prison, where there is no love, but only hatred and scorn and to struggle in a terrifying manner to hold on to nobility and rationality.
The film also explains Carter’s relationship with another black man Lesra short for Lazarus, who buys his book, reads it and is quite convinced about his innocence. Lesra (Vicellous Reon Shannon) is staying with three Canadians who are social activists and are also his mentors. Director Norman Jewison skillfully moves forward with the happenings in appropriate flashbacks. He fills the gaps very prudently and tells the story emphasizing the salient points. Lesra is confident and optimistic about Carter’s innocence. He gives an undying hope and fervour to Carter to get back all those missed joys of life, which were wrongly snatched away from him, because of the racial prejudice, the height of dementia, of a white man, Lt. Vincent Della Pesca (Dan Hedaya).
With the sudden and unexpected arrival of Lesra in his life, Carter travels back to his heart and soon allows himself to love, trust and depend upon a group of white strangers. He knows that the truth will transcend the lies that have kept him in the prison and at the same time he exposes his heart to love and he transcends the prison that he has created in his soul. The three Canadians along with Lesra dedicate their lives to secure the release of Carter from prison, in the face of threats. Their stubborn commitment to achieve their goals will be an eye-opener to many social workers.
The performance of Denzel Washington as Rubin ’’Hurricane’’ Carter is a tour de force and is of award winning calibre. I am short of words to describe his mesmerizing acting. The glow of his eyes accommodating all his feelings, his body language and his delivery of dialogue are par excellence. In his solitary confinement in the prison, he plays dual roles of his personality, the tough fighter immersed in hatred and violence, and a considerate and innocent man overpowered by circumstances. At the same time he plays the real Carter who is the amalgamation of both the personalities. His meetings with Lesra always reaches the pinnacle of emotions, and director Norman Jewison succeeds in pulling our heart strings and the pathos echoes in our minds and our tear glands will be taxed a little. Vicellous Reon Shannon shines as Lesra, adding to the love that Carter feels for him and for us, too. His beaming confidence takes him to fulfill his aspirations and Shannon has lived his role as Lesra. Deborah Unger, John Hannah and Liev Schreiber have significant roles as the three Canadians.
Singer Bob Dylan had written a hit song about Rubin ’’Hurricane’’ Carter, and other personalities like Muhammad Ali had taken part in protest rallies for his cause. But it was the true and dedicated conviction of some ordinary human beings that had set the stage for the freedom of Carter and demonstrated to the whole world that Truth Always Prevails
Hurricane is one of the physical forces on earth, so is The Hurricane, with the same impact and effect. Here goes the hurricane warning!!! Do Not Miss It.