Hey folks Harry here with Dino's enthusiastic (to say the least) and all-caps look at Norman Jewison's latest film, LAZARUS AND THE HURRICANE. I'm a pretty big fan of Jewison's work. From IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR to ROLLERBALL, A SOLDIER'S STORY to AGNES OF GOD. And some of those in between. He's been a filmmaker to watch closely, though lately I haven't been the biggest fan. Hopefully, and from the sound of it, this film will be one to really show off his talents as a fantastic filmmaker again. If you have anything more on this film... Let me know. Now here's DINO with his report and there are spoilers in it!
SAW THE NEW NORMAN JEWISON FILM LAST NIGHT, AND LET'S JUST SAY ONE THING:
"AND THE NOMINEES ARE.....". I'M NOT EXACTLY A BIG FAN OF DENZEL
WASHINGTON, BUT IF HE DOESN'T GET A BEST ACTOR NOMINATION, I'LL LOSE ALL
FAITH IN THE ACADEMY.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
THE FILM STARTS OFF IN BLACK AND WHITE FOR THE FIRST FEW MINUTES, (ALA RAGING
BULL)SHOWING US THE HURRICANE IN ACTION IN THE RING. DENZEL GOT HIMSELF IN
INCREDIBLE SHAPE FOR THIS FILM, AS HE IS AS RIPPED AS I'VE EVER SEEN HIM.
THE HURRICANE IS SHOWN BEATING THE HELL OUT OF SOME POOR CHUMP ENROUTE TO A
WIN. WE LEARN ABOUT THE HURRICANE'S CHILDHOOD, SEE WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF
THE SHOOTINGS IN PATTERSON, AND HOW HE WAS ARRESTED BY A RACIST COP, (PLAYED
BY DAN HEDAYA)AND CHARGED WITH MURDER EVEN AFTER ONE OF THE VICTIMS SAID IT
WASN'T HIM. THE HURRICANE IS PUT IN THE HOLE, BY THE PRISON WARDEN, AFTER
REFUSING TO PUT ON THE INMATES UNIFORM, STATING THAT SINCE HE DIDN'T COMMIT A
CRIME, HE SAW NO REASON TO WEAR THE UNIFORM. THE HURRICANE SPENDS 3 MONTHS IN
THE HOLE, WHERE HE SLOWLY LOSES HIS MIND.
WHEN HE'S SENT BACK INTO THE GEN. POP. HE IS BEFRIENDED BY A GUARD (PLAYED BY
THE GUY WHO PLAYED THE GAY INMATE WHO ATTACKED TIM ROBBINS IN SHAWSHANK) WHO
LETS HIM WEAR PRISON ISSUED HOSPITAL CLOTHES, SO HE WON'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE.
THE HURRICANE REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY INMATE ACTIVITIES, AND SPENDS ALL
HIS TIME READING, AND WORKING OUT IN HIS CELL. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESFUL
ATTEMPTS AT AN APPEAL, AT A HE ENDS UP WRITING HIS BIOGRAPHY, AND IT BECOMES
A BEST SELLER.
A FEW YEARS LATER, A YOUNG STREET TOUGH ILLITERATE BLACK KID NAMED, LEZRA (A
NEW ACTOR, WHO MAKES JAKE LLOYD SEEM LIKE OLIVIER) BUYS THE BOOK AT A FLEA
MARKET, FOR A QUARTER. LEZRA LIVES WITH A HAPPY WHITE COUPLE WHO TOOK HIM IN
AFTER MEETIG HIM AT AN EPA PROGRAM. HE CHOSE THE BOOK AS HIS FIRST BOOK, AND
BECAME INSTANTLY FASCINATED WITH THE HURRICANE'S STORY.
HE BEGAN WRITING, AND VISITING THE HURRICANE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ALWAYS
BELIEVING IN HIS INNOCENCE. HE AND HIS FOSTER PARENTS END UP MOVING FROM
CANADA, SO THEY CAN BE CLOSER TO THE HURRICANE, AND WORK WITH HIS LAWYERS TO
PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.
WE ALL KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS, BUT WATCH OUT FOR AN INCREDIBLE COURTROOM
SCENE WITH A SPECIAL CAMEO BY ROD STEIGER AS A NO NONSENSE JUDGE.
NOT TOO MANY DRY EYES AFTER THIS ONE. THE ONLY NEGATIVE ABOOUT THIS FILM WAS
THE KID WHO PLAYED LEZRA, IN ONE OF THE WORST PERFORMANCES I'V EVER SEEN.
DURING ONE SCENE WHERE HE'S SLEEPING, HE WAKES UP AND ANSWERS A SPLIT SECOND
BEFORE A KNOCK ON THE DOOR IS HEARD. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY LEFT THAT IN THE
FILM.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LOOK FOR WASHINGTON, JEWISON, AND HEDAYA TO NAB OSCAR
NOMINATIONS.
DINO.
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