Hurricane
Is This 'Hurricane' a Twist of Facts?
Rubin Carter: Denzel Washington
Lesra: Vicellous Reon Shannon
Lisa: Deborah Kara Unger
Sam: Liev Schreiber
Terry: John Hannah
Della Pesca: Dan Hedaya
"The Hurricane" is set in Patterson, New Jersey, the hometown of middleweight champion boxer, Rubin Carter. The film tells the triumphant story of Rubin Carter, played by Denzel Washington, who is framed for a triple murder. Rubin Carter loses 19 years of his life in prison because of racism and police corruption.
The film starts with the 'Hurricane' contending in the boxing ring, and proceeds to flash between Carter's childhood and his current misfortunes with Vincent Della Pesca, played by Dan Hedaya. This villainous cop essentially makes it his lifelong business to harm Carter. Although many of the scenes consist of Carter in prison, I feel that the climax of the movie is when the young boy, Lesra, played by Vicellous Reon Shannon, reluctantly goes to a used-book store. Lesra is headed there with one of his educators by the name of Sam, played by Liev Schreiber, because Lesra is required to pick out a book to read for his assignment. I feel this is the climax because soon after he purchases his first book, the relationship between Carter and Lesra begins. The picture on the cover is what first attracts Lesra to the book, but it is Carter's passionate words that keep Lesra attached to it. The book holds so much mystery, emotion, and feeling that it makes the boy determined to meet the 'Hurricane,' and support him in his fight for freedom.
Before meeting the young boy, Carter touches the audience and gathers strength in the scene where he refuses to wear prison clothing, and eventually learns to separate himself mentally and emotionally from his surroundings. He teaches himself to ignore, and to forget the life outside the walls of his prison cell. In doing so, Carter tries to no...
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