Disappointing...

Rating: Null/10 (30 April 2000)

I was very disappointed in The Hurricane after all of the hype that had been built up for it. Washington had a dynamite performance, no doubt, but that was not nearly enough to save this movie. It's been brought to many people's attention that the film is based, at best, only loosely on fact. That stretching of the truth caused the story at times to be very unconvincing. The lack of character development in the movie is my biggest complaint. The Canadians, seemingly out of nowhere, become these outspoken supporters of Carter and drop their careers to aid in his case. And their background is never really brought to light. The only insight we get into Lesra's character are the parallels he draws between himself and Carter. Another part of this film that really bothered me was its length. I'm sorry to say, but even Washington couldn't keep me from looking at my watch. Several of the prison scenes were so drawn out that I wanted him to be free just so I wouldn't have to watch him working out or reading in prison any more. Also, they included the Canadians going around and questioning people that said nothing. What was the point in that? To prove that they didn't want to talk? I think we would have taken your word for it. This whole movie just seemed a bit contrived and forced, not as impacting as I expected it to be.