Rating: Summary: Morose and weak-kneed Raging Bull knock-off Review: It would so easy to lavish accolades on this movie because it was "based on a true story". But I didn't as much as raise an eyebrow, so that's not a problem for me:) The problem for me is to see anything redeeming in a film that portrays blame shifting and gutlessness as if they were virtue. Seemed like hours and hours of Denzel Washington & Co. hemming and hawing and trying to prove his innocence and doing what is right, for nothing more than putting on a weak, cockamamie and sappily over-acted version of "Raging Bull".But don't get me wrong...Denzel Washington & Co. did a wonderful job convincing me of their cluelessness. But is this really something I need to see portrayed for the price I spent on this rental? A film should inspire, entertain, educate. This did none of the above. It just spun its wheels and lapsed into cliche and pulled easy strings to get a tear or two. Overall I give it one star - don't waste your time. Sure wish I hadn't!
Rating: Summary: the hurricane was a masterpiece Review: i watch the hurricane last night thinking that it was going to be another boring prison film, but it was like the film touched me in a way. it was a story about a man who believe in things so much that nothing was going to change it and for that i think Rubin deserves some repect. Denzel Washington played the part perfectly and they even looked alike which makes it more believable. after watching the film and never even hearing of Rubin Carter i am now purchasing the book it see how it must of really felt for him. i guess after hearing such a powerfull story like that u wonder how messed up the world really is and that law isnt always right.
Rating: Summary: 3 strikes for Denzel Review: This movie was boring, disheartening, spineless and basically just all around insipid. In fact, it is the first DVD that I will be returning. It was that unbelievably godawful. Bone Collector was pretentious, Remember the Titans was very cliché, marginally interesting. But The Hurricane was way below average in terms of the story line, the message it attempted to impart, the cross-section of humanity it tried to portray, and basic overall movie-going satisfaction. The movie was poorly written and the characters seemed like they were something out of a children's book, because they had about the same level of complexity and interest. The acting was OK, but certainly nothing Oscar-worthy. Denzel's movie roles of late have been much ado about nothing, and his performance in The Hurricane is highly overrated. He gets one more try.
Rating: Summary: More tripe from Norman "Rollerball" Jewison Review: If you are a fan of movies of substance, then pass on this one because "The Hurricane" is likely not for you. It's a sappy, cheesy, artificially sentimental movie that opts for a couple of preposterous turns in the story line in order to squeeze a sniffle or even a tear or two. If, however, you are the type who like a good cry or you want a grossly out-of-proportion rendition of the truth, then this movie may do the trick - just so long as you really don't pay much attention to the story line and how ludicrous and absurdly bad Denzel Washington's (over)acting is. It was no surprise to me that the director of the 1975 original version of "Rollerball" patched this thing together.
Rating: Summary: Good movie, but.... Review: For a movie that was well praised by critics, I was sort of expecting more. Not that it was bad or anything, but the story was predictable, and nothing in it was surprising. I generally agree that Denzel Washington's acting was good, but at times, I felt his character remained aloof. In the end, I didn't warm up to Rubin Carter as a person, but was I supposed to? Basically, the movie is a good portrayal of Rubin Carter, his career, his incarceration, chronicling how his Canadian friends stayed by his side and helped freed him. I seem to not have much to say about the movie ... perhaps that says enough, I liked it, but didn't think it was that great.
Rating: Summary: boring and over-hyped Review: I can't believe all these reviews I see gushing all over Denzel's performance in this film...so he was a boxer who got caught red-handed, boo-hoo. Anyone could play that role. Denzel Washington is an overacting clod who grandstands about the racial injustices in this country at any opportunity he's given. Denzel needs to wake up and realize that if it weren't for the opportunities this "racist" country has provided for him, he wouldn't be a hotshot Hollywood star making millions off his movies. If you want to talk about gross injustices in this country, you need go no further than the fact that Denzel's movies have brought in so much money. Will Smith as "Ali" knocks this third-rate, preachy piece of fluff flat out on the mat 10 rounds out of 10 any day of the week.
Rating: Summary: A lot of hot air Review: I went to see this movie because I thought it would be interesting. As I learned earlier this movie is based on a true story about the true Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and how he was framed for shooting some guy. I also think that he was wrongfully accused and shouldn't have been arrested. I think that this movie is even more boring than the pokemon movie. I went to see "The Cider House Rules" it is WAY better than "The Hurricane". I think that the elderly would enjoy this movie the most because they actually remember this event in time. Another Group of people that would enjoy this movie would be the young because of its message to tell little kids not to do what the actual Hurricane did.
Rating: Summary: Pompous and contrived Review: "Hurricane" the movie and Denzel Washington have a lot in common: they're both laughably overrated. Don't believe the hype, this movie and its twisted-out-of-context storyline aren't nearly as poignant and thought-provoking as director Norman Jewison would like you to believe. Go ahead and buy it if you want, but don't say I didn't try and warn you.
Rating: Summary: (3 1/2 stars) Powerfully impacting, but undeniably too slow Review: In a non-fiction film (mostly), about the late boxer, Rubin Carter, who's imprisoned for a crime he didn't committ, nearly fifteen years later, a child reads his book and gets his family in a decision that is so moving, and so risky- trying to prove Rubin innocent and get him out of jail. "Hate put me in prison, but love's gonna bust me out..." -The most memorable words from a powerful performance by Denzel Washington. This emotional story pits him at a high ranking for some of the best acting in his career. The problem with this film is its predictability, regardless of hearing this story before, its false characters, and its overlong plot which could've been shortened up. Another problem with this film is how it flashes back in time, back further, and back, then back to reality. The beginning is just Denzel getting all ready like he's going out to the ring, (in his prison cell), saying- "Come on. I'll take you all on... I won't take no sh-t." Then we go back to his boxing career, and da da da da. It bothered me. This drama shifts both to pros and cons uprises and downfalls. Partly because you feel so bad for this man who's been in prison over half of his life simply because of racism. Yet, this story is profound and doesn't have any means to leave you with sad boredom. It's an epic story of friendship and never giving up when the impossibilities seems greater than ever. It ends in a solid, regardless of how drawn out the film is. There is fire, there is fury, there is a powerhouse performance from Denzel Washington, there is drama- there is nothing to back it up... The slowness and confusion of where we are in time will detract from this film and you may enjoy it, but you will still have seconds thoughts in the back of your mind. And for those of you who know the story anyways- there isn't much point in seeing the movie, because the film is very fictionalized. Try reading Rubin's book, or read biography and/or documentrary. Then, if you need more, try THE HURRICANE. Overall, it is a worth-while film I suppose.
Rating: Summary: Institutional racism Review: Denzel Washington is always good, but he is amazingly versatile in this movie. It's heavy with less action than other Denzel movies, but the depth is inspiring. Denzel explores the degree to which racism was embedded in American institutions by exploring the law enforcement and legal processes conspiring to keep an innocent man in prison. Painful, emotional, raw, real. This is a great movie! For some who prefer intellectually lighter work, it will seem to move a little slow, but the conclusion is worth the wait. Denzel captures the mood of the era when he answers two police officers in the movie who explain they are looking for suspects: two black men. "Any two will do?" Denzel replies. The frightening reality is that this movie isn't about history. Just recently, an African-American friend was explaining that he was repeatedly pulled over when driving through Alabama, Texas and other southern States. Will these irrational acts ever end? Denzel's work in this movie brings to film a critical aspect of American social problems.
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