The Great Debaters (2007)

Let's be realistic.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

The story is another of the factual based tale that receives little spotlight in the mainstream cinema. Overall it's based and also executed quite well. But the development leave me quite curious and wondering that it can be done far more better. It's because the screenplay looks as it puts too much weight to the side plot of the romance angle whereas it should be focusing more on the political and the racial issues side plots. That would make the movie more serious and thrilling, as it should be done for me. The acting overall is quite a good one. Denzel Washington did a pretty good job here, double timing as giving a good serious character acting and directing. Forest Whitaker nicely portrays the strict yet logical-thinking preacher. The team of Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker and Jurnee Smollett Bell is having more than needed exposure on the relationship while their more significant performance on the debate is often replaced with montages.

The Great Debaters is a no-holds barred depiction of a disgusting time in American history in an upsetting era of extreme racism in the south. Fine acting by the entire cast, particularly Nate Parker as Henry Lowe, an emotionally charged young black student without fear. He pushes Denzel Washington (Melvin Tolson) who teaches the students debating at Wiley College, an all-black college in Texas. Looking back from the present time, you think blacks, Texas, 1930's - this is not going to be pretty...and it wasn't.You feel the seething undercurrent of mistreatment throughout, starting with the young woman (Jurnee Bell as Samantha Booke) who arrives in town to attend Wiley. She gets off the bus and the only bench is marked - whites only. Fights, arrests, guns, violence (some direct, some implied), lynching, the whole 9 yards. Sometimes I felt like I wanted to cry, other times, just throw something. The utter stupidity of the times is shocking.I guess the film, backed by Oprah and Denzel, really wanted to show how much blacks have had to overcome, and how there were many who preached using your mind, and words, not violence, to debate, to fight, to stand up for yourself - to get ahead.The final scene involves the juxtaposition you would expect from a typical Hollywood ending. Rich, white kids facing off against poor, black kids. Who will win? Let me just say that the final speech from the young Mr Farmer will move you.If you liked Ghandhi, or even Mississippi Burning, you will enjoy The Great Debaters. The only critique is the film editing, where they probably could have shortened many scenes to bring this closer to 100-110 minutes - minor point.Enjoy.

It isn't often you can enter a theater to view an interesting film and leave with a sense of emotional awe. Each time we risk a trip back in our time to not only witness what our predecessors did, we also experience the shocking mayhem, violence and tragedies of the day. Indeed we further allow ourselves to become immersed in the ugly ignorant world of human reality. Time was when the events which take place in this movie called " The Great Debators " was the basis for a story, ostensible written by Robert Eisele and ably directed by Denzel Washington. Having a featured role, Mr. Washinton also portrays Melvin B. Tolson a social activist and debate teacher. The film relates the story of how he selects a group of talented black students and instructs them in the art of the verbal debate. Their ability and intellectual growth is mirrored through their lives and social interactions. Each is subject to the hatred and prejudice of time. Further, each witnesses the enormous pressures of a subjugated people and their demeaning subservient role. Despite the enormous danger of mob violence which could exploded on any given day or time, the students are able to rise to the challenge of expressing through words, their feelings, emotions and eventual victory to overcome their racial bonds and shackles. The movie is a remarkable triumph for Washington and the entire cast who allow us to join them in a time which reminds us of our social inhumanity. The best and worse remains and only time will tell whether we have learned anything from our past. Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, and John Heard complete the fine cast. ****

I say this because: 1) The acting is remarkable. Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise are all stunningly good 2) The cinematography is very well done and the score is beautifully and uplifting. 3) The story is great. It has multiple underdog themes which when watching, you root so much for the underdog it actually hurts :). These would be: a) the black people in the south in the 1930s b) little Wiley collage (especially when they are vs Harvard) c) the 14 year old boy James P. Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker) who is seemingly incapable at first of debating. Do yourself a favor and see "The Great Debaters". You are going to love it.