A very interesting story...

Rating: 8/10 (17 January 2000)

I actually was not familiar with the story of the Hurricane. I hadn't heard the story at all. I don't remember it being talked about at all. I was of an age that I would have remembered it when he was finally released.
As is my usual custom, I try not to consume any information relating to a movie before I get out to see it. I don't want my thoughts prejudiced by someone else's opinions.
I saw it opening night and I was impressed. Denzel has been better, but that is not to say he was bad at all in this. Actually, he's not required to do too much except look like a boxer and resemble Rubin Carter. He does both well. he doesn't need the character ability that he showed in Glory, nor does he need the screen presence he showed in Crimson Tide.
Knowing this movie was based on a true story, I felt compelled to find out what I could about what really happened so I could say how it was portrayed in the film. If the facts aren't important then there's no need to tell me that it's based on a true story.
After doing that research, I think I am a little disappointed in the film's accuracy. While I don't have a problem with them consolidating the forces that helped convict Carter into the character of Detective Vincent Della Pesca for theatrical purposes, I don't like how the truth of his innocence being discovered was portrayed.
First, the two men that testified they saw Carter seen leaving the bar that night after the shootings later recanted their statements saying the police paid them and gave them sweetheart deals (they were criminals) in exchange for that testimony. This isn't even mentioned in the film and I think would have been much more dramatic and realistic than the alternative that was portrayed. I won't mention it because I'm no spoiler.

Also, the film seems to imply that the case against Carter was unraveled by Lesra and his guardians alone and that the defense lawyers were kind of incompetent. That simply wasn't the case. I don't know if what is depicted played better or what, but without the testimony of the witnesses being recanted Mr. Carter might still be in jail.
In general the film is very well done and all give good performances. Aside from straying from the facts, this is recommended viewing.