Rubin Hurricane Carter

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's eyes were riveted on Denzel Washington. The onetime prizefighter known for fixing his intense glare on opponents in the ring was staring hard at the actor as the two sat down to lunch, trying to figure out what was different about Washington's movement, smile, laugh, mannerisms. It's not that he was star-struck. Far from it. The pair had been meeting off and on for nearly a decade with hopes of one day making a movie about Carter's remarkable life story.

I read with great interest Robert Welkos' article about the difficulty of adapting true-life stories to the screen ("Digging for the Truth," March 12). It's an arduous task to please all the people involved in a real-life event. In the case of the movie "The Hurricane," critics have unfairly taken aim at both Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and Denzel Washington, who plays him in the film. It's tough to figure who's getting the worse deal: Hurricane Carter, who because the movie of his life is up for an Oscar, is suddenly being retried in the media and on the Internet; or Denzel Washington, whose beautiful and poetic performance has been caught up in the controversy.

Usually when inmates watch a movie at the Pitchess Detention Center, it is on 19-inch television screens, said inmate Daniel Kilcoyne. And sheriff's deputies pick the films, which are not recent releases, he said. But that changed Friday, when about 120 inmates gathered to listen to Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and to watch the movie based on his life. This time, the film was shown on a large screen in the maximum security center's library. The Rev.

Amy Wallace's article on the varying accusations of distortion leveled against "The Hurricane" and "The Insider" missed the most obvious reason why academy voters may have taken the controversy surrounding "The Hurricane" more seriously than the one surrounding "The Insider" ("Split Decision Over 'Hurricane,' 'Insider,' " Feb. 16). If the tobacco lobby feels that "The Insider" portrays them unfairly, I don't really think this is going to bother too many people, since, after all, the industry has done more than its share of lying in the past.

A state judge on Friday formally dismissed 22-year-old triple murder charges against Rubin (Hurricane) Carter, a week after prosecutors said they would not seek a third trial of the former boxer. "I'm joyous with the result and deeply satisfied that justice finally has been done and the charges dismissed," Carter's attorney, Myron Beldock, said after Superior Court Judge Ralph V. Martin signed the order dismissing the indictment against Carter and John Artis.

I read with great interest Robert Welkos' article about the difficulty of adapting true-life stories to the screen ("Digging for the Truth," March 12). It's an arduous task to please all the people involved in a real-life event. In the case of the movie "The Hurricane," critics have unfairly taken aim at both Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and Denzel Washington, who plays him in the film. It's tough to figure who's getting the worse deal: Hurricane Carter, who because the movie of his life is up for an Oscar, is suddenly being retried in the media and on the Internet; or Denzel Washington, whose beautiful and poetic performance has been caught up in the controversy.

There's been much writing in the Calendar section over the last few weeks about who should be nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards, but I'd like to suggest someone who does not deserve a nomination. Jim Carrey's performance as the late, great Andy Kaufman in "Man on the Moon" is an imitation and nothing more. Carrey's smug, back-patting insistence that he "became" Kaufman is an insult to the artistry of Kaufman and to every actor throughout the world who simply "acts." You never hear Denzel Washington jabbering to the press about how he "became" Malcolm X or Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and his work is more satisfying (and accolade-worthy)

Former boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter came down from Canada on Friday to tell Americans that it's time to abolish the death penalty. Carter, who spent nearly 20 years in a New Jersey prison after his conviction for three murders, spoke before more than 700 people during a panel discussion at the National Conference on Wrongful Convictions and the Death Penalty. "I am not pleased to be here under these circumstances.

New Jersey prosecutors announced Friday that they will not seek a third murder trial against Rubin (Hurricane) Carter, ending the former boxer's 22-year campaign for freedom that became a popular celebrity cause. The passage of time, problems finding witnesses, court decisions discrediting previous testimony and the burden posed by a third prosecution were cited in legal motions seeking dismissal of the indictment against Carter and his alleged accomplice, John Artis.

Amy Wallace's article on the varying accusations of distortion leveled against "The Hurricane" and "The Insider" missed the most obvious reason why academy voters may have taken the controversy surrounding "The Hurricane" more seriously than the one surrounding "The Insider" ("Split Decision Over 'Hurricane,' 'Insider,' " Feb. 16). If the tobacco lobby feels that "The Insider" portrays them unfairly, I don't really think this is going to bother too many people, since, after all, the industry has done more than its share of lying in the past.

Controversy about the veracity of Universal Pictures' "The Hurricane" appeared to take a toll Tuesday, when the film, once seen as a formidable Academy Award contender, garnered only one nomination--best actor for Denzel Washington. The film, which tells the story of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's imprisonment on a false murder charge, has been accused of distorting history and falsifying Carter's legal battles.

When Universal Pictures launched "The Hurricane" at the end of December, the studio not only thought the film starring Denzel Washington was a potential hit but a formidable Academy Awards contender. But in the weeks following its release, the studio and Beacon Pictures, which co-financed the picture, have been embroiled in an ugly media battle over the movie's veracity, which many in Hollywood believe has badly tarnished its Oscar aura.

There's been much writing in the Calendar section over the last few weeks about who should be nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards, but I'd like to suggest someone who does not deserve a nomination. Jim Carrey's performance as the late, great Andy Kaufman in "Man on the Moon" is an imitation and nothing more. Carrey's smug, back-patting insistence that he "became" Kaufman is an insult to the artistry of Kaufman and to every actor throughout the world who simply "acts." You never hear Denzel Washington jabbering to the press about how he "became" Malcolm X or Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and his work is more satisfying (and accolade-worthy)

In a year when Hollywood tried not only to entertain but educate and enlighten movie audiences, the Golden Globes were awarded Sunday night to films that dealt with social injustice, the human drama, dark satire and even an odd assortment of toys with a heart and a mission. "American Beauty," a bleak fable about a middle-age Everyman stuck in a boring job and a loveless marriage, won three Golden Globes--including best feature-length drama, director and screenplay. The win vaulted the Sam Mendes-directed film to the head of the pack in the all-important Academy Awards race.

Most Americans understand that "real life" movies rise or fall on their entertainment value and accept that at least some elements of fiction are mixed together with fact. However, Universal Pictures' "The Hurricane" crosses the line between reasonable embellishment and pernicious distortion.

Usually when inmates watch a movie at the Pitchess Detention Center, it is on 19-inch television screens, said inmate Daniel Kilcoyne. And sheriff's deputies pick the films, which are not recent releases, he said. But that changed Friday, when about 120 inmates gathered to listen to Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and to watch the movie based on his life. This time, the film was shown on a large screen in the maximum security center's library. The Rev.

Controversy about the veracity of Universal Pictures' "The Hurricane" appeared to take a toll Tuesday, when the film, once seen as a formidable Academy Award contender, garnered only one nomination--best actor for Denzel Washington. The film, which tells the story of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's imprisonment on a false murder charge, has been accused of distorting history and falsifying Carter's legal battles.

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's eyes were riveted on Denzel Washington. The onetime prizefighter known for fixing his intense glare on opponents in the ring was staring hard at the actor as the two sat down to lunch, trying to figure out what was different about Washington's movement, smile, laugh, mannerisms. It's not that he was star-struck. Far from it. The pair had been meeting off and on for nearly a decade with hopes of one day making a movie about Carter's remarkable life story.

Former boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter came down from Canada on Friday to tell Americans that it's time to abolish the death penalty. Carter, who spent nearly 20 years in a New Jersey prison after his conviction for three murders, spoke before more than 700 people during a panel discussion at the National Conference on Wrongful Convictions and the Death Penalty. "I am not pleased to be here under these circumstances.