Hurricane Streets is the feature debut of 26 year old writer/director Morgan J. Freeman - not the actor. It won the audience award for best director at the Sundance Film Festival last year. Set on the streets of Manhattan`s lower east side it`s the story of Marcus - Brendan Sexton III, a 15 year old who lives with his grandmother because his mother`s in gaol. He and his mates ride their bicycles, indulge in petty theft and hang out in their bunker of a clubhouse. Another layer is added to Marcus` life when he meets Melena - Isidra Vega - a Latino girl with an over-protective single -parent father.
Morgan J. Freeman has said the key to his film is the character of Marcus - you have to fall in love with him..... for the audience at Sundance that was obviously easy, but I`m not so sure for myself. It`s an interesting performance from Sexton, you certainly believe in this asthmatic boy who justifiably regards the world with suspicion. But the film as a whole doesn`t actually enter into any brave new territory. You feel you`ve been on these streets before, with similar kids. But it`s nicely directed and impressively photographed with a strong central performance.
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