The Hurricane

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
The Hurricane Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Denzel dazzles in biopic of imprisoned boxer.

R 2000 146 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has boxing matches, shooting in a bar, and a knife fight. There is also some strong language, including racial epithets. There is also a non-explicit potrayal of child molester, some non-sexual nudity, and social drinking.

Community Reviews

jmo97
jmo97 Adult
May 28, 2016
age 16+

An interesting biographic that has severe pacing issues.

The Hurricane is a biographic about Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a real-life boxer who got imprisoned after he was accused of murdering at least three people in a bar. The acting in this movie is overall very good, with Denzel Washington being the stand out (because honestly this movie is about his character). The themes of the movie, which include redemption and perseverance, and the story are very interesting, and I recognize that the filmmakers were trying to create an honorable film about racial prejudice. That alone should give some interest for parents to watch with their mature teens. For me though, after the first hour or so, the film REALLY started to drag, and instead of being engaged, I was tired and relieved (though somewhat inspired) by the film's end. For violence, there are two intense boxing matches (though they don't last more than a few minutes), a shooting at a bar with some blood spurts, and a scene where a bottle is smashed on a guy's head, and that man is later stabbed in the arm (there is blood). For sexual content, the scenes of real concern are one where some prisoners are shown naked from behind and searched by guards, and then another scene where a molester tries to get closer to a boy (he touches the boy's head, but is later stopped). There is a fair amount of foul language (standard cursing), but it's not pervasive. The Hurricane is an honorable movie, but I had trouble finishing it. 6.2/10

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
clarence
clarence Adult
August 4, 2015
age 12+

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this biopic, Denzel Washington portrays Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who triumphed over a brutal childhood to become a contender for the middleweight boxing championship, through pure determination. The story follows Carter's harrowing experience as he's wrongfully sentenced to three life terms for murders he did not commit, then uses the same discipline, integrity, and ineradicable sense of dignity that served him as a fighter to survive in prison. In a side-story, a boy named Lasra Martin, living in Canada with people who took him in to provide him with an opportunity to get a better education, buys his first book for twenty-five cents. It is Carter's book written in prison, The Sixteenth Round. Lasra writes his first letter. Carter answers. They develop a close relationship, and Lasra introduces Carter to his Canadian friends, who become so committed to him that they move to New Jersey, vowing not to leave until he goes with them. They uncover new evidence, the lawyers develop a new theory, and finally, 20 years later, Carter is freed.

Is It Any Good?

Denzel Washington's dazzling portrayal as Carter makes us see the man's courage and heart. And the astounding story of chance, loyalty, and dedication that led to his release gives us a chance to see true heroism and redemption. The devotion of the Canadians and the lawyers is truly heroic and very moving -- the movie gently contrasts them with the celebrities who stopped by long enough to get their photographs taken, and then moved on to other causes.

But, contrary to many "victims of racism saved by righteous white people" movie portrayals, the real hero of this story is Carter himself. In his first days in prison, locked in "the hole" for refusing to wear a prison uniform, we see him forging the steel that will keep his essence free, no matter how many locks are on the door. Then, in scenes that are almost unbearably moving, we see that he can still allow himself to hope and to need others. He has protected himself from despair and bitterness in refusing to be a victim.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the struggles for racial equality in the 1960's and 1970's, and about what has and has not changed. And they can also talk about the way that Carter keeps his spirit alive, in part by identifying himself with prisoners of conscience like Nelson Mandela and Emile Zola, and by writing, "a weapon more powerful than my fists can ever be."

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