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Verdict: Denzel Washington delivers his best performance in years as boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.

Details: Starring Denzel Washington and Vicellous Reon Shannon. Directed by Norman Jewison. Rated R for profanity and some violence. 2 hours.

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Review: Like most movie biographies, "The Hurricane," the hard-hitting story of the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, ducks, dodges and dances around the truth.

Directed by Norman Jewison, the film fabricates at least one main character while virtually ignoring the vital roles that others played. It also alters several aspects of the real story and makes things up for dramatic effect.

"Hurricane" is, after all, a Hollywood tale, and that makes it about as authentic as "Titanic."

But the movie does have Denzel Washington, whose performance as the sometimes punchy, sometimes spiritual pugilist is darned near perfect. And it has moments, especially when Washington is in the ring, that can make you forget that parts of it are pure hogwash.

Carter was a talented middleweight boxing contender in June 1966 when he was questioned along with John Artis, another African-American, about the murders of three white people at a New Jersey bar. Ultimately railroaded and convicted, they both received three life terms, and Carter ended up serving nearly 20 years behind bars. Along the way, many took up the cause to urge his release, including Bob Dylan, whose spirited song "Hurricane" is used in the movie.

Jewison ("In the Heat of the Night," "A Soldier's Story") has chosen to focus "Hurricane" mainly on the relationship between the imprisoned Carter and Lesra Martin (Vicellous Reon Shannon), an alienated American teenager who read the boxer's book, "The 16th Round," and inspired a group of Canadians to work for his release.

Though what plays out on-screen isn't always the true story--the screenplay is "based on" Carter's book and another, "Lazarus and the Hurricane" by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton--it works as drama. The film's early boxing scenes, shot in glorious black and white, are precise, inspired re-creations, with a crowd of shouting extras whose performances are as mesmerizing and convincing as the powerful pugilism in the ring.

As Carter, Washington is often a revelation. The actor spent months beefing up his body and preparing for the fierce fight sequences. And mentally, he captures both Carter's toughness and his spiritual awakening with remarkable believability. Washington hasn't been this good since his Oscar-winning performance in "Glory."

The movie's biggest weaknesses can be found in its fabrications. Dan Hedaya, for example, plays police Detective Vincent Della Pesca, a fictional character, as a bullheaded Inspector Javert who pursues Carter throughout his conviction and appeals. Washington is given at least one trumped-up post-court appearance speech that's little more than preening for the Oscars.

Almost completely excised from the film is the role and fate of Artis, the man falsely imprisoned along with Carter. Artis was released on parole in 1981 after serving 15 years.

Still, "Hurricane" has a potent, committed punch. It's fashioned with the kind of classic Hollywood professionalism that's fast becoming a rarity at the movies. Like "In the Heat of the Night," it knows racial injustice when it sees it--and lays it bare for all the world to witness.

— Bob Longino, Cox News Service

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