Movie Truths

Amy Wallace’s article on the varying accusations of distortion leveled against “The Hurricane” and “The Insider” missed the most obvious reason why academy voters may have taken the controversy surrounding “The Hurricane” more seriously than the one surrounding “The Insider” (“Split Decision Over ‘Hurricane,’ ‘Insider,’ ” Feb. 16).

If the tobacco lobby feels that “The Insider” portrays them unfairly, I don’t really think this is going to bother too many people, since, after all, the industry has done more than its share of lying in the past. But some of the facts that have come to light regarding the real story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, especially the revelation that he severely beat a female supporter, are exactly the kinds of things that might cause academy voters (and others) to want to distance themselves from the film based on his life.

CHRISTOPHER COLE

Los Angeles