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The Hurricane (1999)

tomatometer

83

Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 113
Fresh: 94 | Rotten: 19

Critics praise Denzel Washington's performance and find The Hurricane to be a powerful and moving story.

94

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 31
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 2

Critics praise Denzel Washington's performance and find The Hurricane to be a powerful and moving story.

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 52,012

My Rating

Movie Info

In 1966, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was a top-ranked middleweight boxer whom many fight fans expected to become world champion. When three people were shot to death in a bar in Paterson, New Jersey, Carter and his friend John Artis, driving home from another club in Paterson, were stopped and questioned by police. Although the police asserted that Carter and Artis "were never suspects," a man named Alfred Bello, himself a suspect in the killings, claimed that Carter and Artis were present at the

Jul 11, 2000

Universal Pictures

Cast

All Critics (113) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (96) | Rotten (21) | DVD (18)

The movie's dogged humorlessness, and its sixties-style cant, don't do justice to all the political crosscurrents in this story.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A reminder that there's still a lot to be said for the good old-fashioned inspirational Hollywood movie.

April 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Give director Norman Jewison credit for two things: 1) He made the movie; 2) He let Washington run away with it.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Its celebration of a spirit that refused to go down for the count is the important thing here, and Washington gets it shiningly right.

January 1, 2000 Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As the Hurricane, Denzel Washington blows away everyone else in this film -- and just about everyone else in any film in recent memory.

January 1, 2000 Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An expertly crafted, deeply moving film.

January 1, 2000 Comment
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Denzel dazzles in biopic of imprisoned boxer.

December 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

The film, directed by Norman Jewison, feels a bit too simple for such a complex story, but Washington transcends the problems to provide his best acting since Malcolm X.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

There's no denying it's powerful stuff, which, for want of a better phrase, really packs a punch.

August 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Startlingly inept coming from a generally accomplished director like Norman Jewison.

September 24, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Facile and unpersuasive.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

There is a talented supporting cast, but they are not given much opportunity to break out of the two-dimensional symbolism they are cloaked with in the script by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews

The film has genuine impact, and I'm betting that leading and supporting Oscar nominations will follow.

May 20, 2003 Comment
Palo Alto Weekly

A thoughtful, moving story, and a triumph for Jewison, Washington, and Carter himself.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | Comment
Film Quips Online

The drama is hung on a vendetta between a flawed-but-honourable man and a doggedly bad cop. Yes, it's Valjean and Javert, together again.

December 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | Comment
Sight and Sound

A great showcase for the actor's skills.

November 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

Some stories are so good that even a Hollywood screenwriter can't ruin them. The Hurricane is one of them.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | Comment
San Diego Metropolitan

As the center of the drama, Mr. Washington more than fills the screen; he very nearly sets it on fire.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | Comment
Cincinnati Enquirer

...straightforward, human drama that conveys a strong dose of excitement, heartache, and inspiration.

April 16, 2002 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Crusty old Canadian liberal Norman Jewison has airbrushed Carter of his foibles and turned him into that hoary racial stereotype, the saintly martyred black man.

March 24, 2002 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comment
Boston Phoenix

a glowing depiction of the resilience of humanity that extends beyond skin color or political affirmation.

March 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Matinee Magazine | Comment
Matinee Magazine
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Hurricane

"While this picture is based upon a true story, some characters have been composited or invented, and a number of incidents fictionalized."Now that's the disclaimer at the very outset of the movie. So take your pick for who's to be blamed for those having problems with fictionalization of true events here. Whatever

March 19, 2009
imrealgod

Super Reviewer

The Hurricane is one of the most influential movies I have ever seen. The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter lives in all of those who watch this film, giving them a sense of belief to never give up on your dreams or whatever the truth may be. Denzel Washington represents a picture-perfect image of the real hero. With

October 3, 2010
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

    1. Rubin "Hurricane" Carter: [to Lesra] Hate put me in prison. Love's gonna bust me out.
    – Submitted by Sam B (6 months ago)

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