After watching the film, I instantly believed that Rubin Carter was not guilty. However after researching Carter’s case through various websites, the proof is not absolute that Carter is innocent. According to the movie, he had an unfair trial due to racial issues, the juries consisted of all white people, the police involved in the investigation were corrupt since they suppressed information, the court worked against Carter assuming that he was already guilty before even presenting evidence, and Carter claims he passed a lie detector test. But not everything portrayed in the movie is 100% true; parts of it were deliberately fictionalized in order to make the film more entertaining and more convincing towards Carter’s innocence. For instance, Carter did not pass a lie detector test although he claimed he did. Apparently the authorities offered Carter, on the eve of the second trial, a chance to take a second test. They said if he passes it, they drop the charges and if he flunks it, they will agree not to mention the second test. But Carter refused. But why? If he claims he passed the first polygraph, why not a second, and walk away a free man? Moreover evil detectives did not threaten the Canadians on the street and did not tamper with their car, and the Canadians did not find evidence that proves Carter is innocent or that Carter was framed, and neither has anybody else. His release had nothing to do with proving the case was built on "forgeries and lies," as Carter’s lawyers claimed in the final courtroom scene of the movie. More importantly the filmmakers changed the name of the detective from Vincent DeSimone to Vincent Della Pesca. This character was significantly fictionalized for the movie. Apparently, Vincent DeSimone had never met Rubin Carter before the murders, and had therefore never hounded or harassed Rubin when he was a child, as depicted in the movie. Detective DeSimone also wasn't alive for the court hearing that set Carter free in 1985. He had died six years earlier.
In conclusion, in no doubt is the power of the movie undeniable. I want to fully believe in the Hurricane, but unfortunately my research and the film's fabrications has left me uncertain. In my opinion it would be a shame if Rubin Carter is to be found guilty.
