Strong. controlled performance by Denzel Washington.

Rating: 8/10 (2 October 2000)

This could have been a longer film. It's great to see a role for an actor of Denzel Washington's stature. Should make folks wonder why he doesn't do more, but there are only so many leads for black actors, just so many Malcolms and Hurricanes. The film suffered at the box office because the public's historical memory is so short, and beyond Bob Dylan, the story just fell below the popular horizon. It is inspiring, and the performance by the young Vicellous Reon Shannon as Lesra is touching and true. The scene with his high school diploma is wonderful. Worth seeing again. Denzel brings a controlled dignity to the role of Rueben Carter and that permeates this movie.