Directed by: Norman Jewison
Writing credits: Rubin Carter, Sam Chaiton, Terry Swinton, Armyan Bernstein, Dan Gordon
Movie Genre: Biography/Drama/Sport
Released: 1999
Running Time: 145 minutes
Rating: 16VL
The Hurricane is a 1999 biographical movie based on the life and controversy of middleweight boxing champion Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
It was directed by Norman Jewison and was based on the book by Carter called The 16th Round, as well as a book co-authored by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton called Lazarus and the Hurricane.
Carter is a man whose dreams of winning the middleweight boxing title were destroyed when he was arrested along with another man for the murders of three people in a New Jersey bar.
Wrongfully accused (according to the film), Carter and John Artis were convicted and sentenced to three life terms in prison, where Carter decided to channel his frustration and despair by writing his own story from his cell.
Although his autobiography, The 16th Round, did get published, Carter remained behind bars, finding inner peace by withdrawing from the outer world and the national interest which surrounds his case.
Years later, an alienated American youth living in Canada found direction and purpose for the first time in his life by reading Carter's book, and began corresponding with him.
Convinced of his innocence, the teenager enlists his social activist guardians Terry Swinton, Lisa Peters and Sam Chaiton to mount a full-time campaign to get Carter released.
Initially reluctant to join forces with these well-meaning strangers, Carter was soon won over by their extraordinary passion and selfless commitment to his cause, proclaiming "Hate put me in prison, love is gonna' bus me out."
With renewed faith and determination, Carter was able to continue his fight for justice and eventually walk out a free man.
Tagline: His greatest fight was for justice.