Hurricane

The Universal Studios DVD of The Hurricane nicely frames the story of Rubin Carter's personal and social redemption, with a lovely anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer highlighting the superb work of cinematographer Roger Deakin (Shawshank Redemption, Fargo), and Dolby Digital or Surround Sound options (all the better for listening to the timely, eclectic soundtrack music of Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Etta James, and Gil Scott Heron). In the "Audio Commentary" feature, director Norman Jewison answers the controversy surrounding the film by saying, "Truth is a moving target. You'll never get it right." He points out the historical facts and dramatic license between the film and actual events. He also comments on the more technical details -- film locations, lens size, and the need for different angles when forced to use the same location over and over (e.g. the prison visiting area). A 20-minute featurette, "The Making of The Hurricane," gives the audience a glimpse of the real-life Rubin Carter and Lesra Martin discussing their experiences. The "Deleted Scenes" section includes five brief scenes, with introductions by Jewison. Along with the usual DVD extras of a theatrical trailer, cast and crew background, production notes, and DVD-ROM links, these features provide a thorough and intelligent DVD package.