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Rated: PG-13
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, J. D. Evermore, John Heard
Directed by: Denzel Washington
Taking on the huge challenge of directing a film dealing with segregation and equality, Denzel Washington puts forth a valiant effort with The Great Debaters, and comes up a winner. Without being self-aggrandizing or seeking sympathy for the way African-Americans were treated, he tells the true story of courage and determination that was one bright spark in the fight for equality during the 1930s.
Some may regard it as moving and historical, but I saw the film as thought provoking and inspirational in the spirit of Glory Road and Remember the Titans.
Inspired by a true story, The Great Debaters
chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Washington), a
brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a
group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep
south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor
Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for
his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods, as well as his radical
political views.
After choosing his final debate team Tolson promises
his students, Henry Lowe (Parker), James Farmer, Jr. (Whitaker), Hamilton
Burgess (Williams) and Samantha Brooke (Smollett), if they become champions
of the African American colleges, that he’ll get them a chance to compete for
the national championship against Anglo Saxon universities. But, in that day and age, getting there was
only half the battle.
Performances
and directing are incredible in this story of a four-member debate team facing
major odds during a period in American History that was shrouded in hate and
fear. Williams, Smollett, Parker, and Whitaker are amazing in their roles as the debate team. Armed with some snappy retorts, the four
debaters pound out their responses with confidence against their
challengers.
When the team comes face to
face with their biggest contest, it’s Smollett that makes her mark on the
screen with a delivery that’s emotional, dignified and courageous.
“The
state is currently spending five times more for the education for a white child
than it is fitting to educate a colored child. That means better textbooks for
that child than for that child. I say that's a shame, but my opponent says
today is not the day for whites and coloreds to go to the same college. To
share the same campus. To walk into the same classroom. Well, would you kindly
tell me when that day is gonna come? Is it going to come tomorrow? Is it going
to come next week? In a hundred years?! Never?! No, the time for justice, the
time for freedom, and the time for equality is always, is always right
now!”—Samantha Brooke.
The film contains some detestable
violence surrounding white hatred resulting in disturbing images. The content is important to the plot as it
gives the audience a sample of the injustices that were carried out during that
period of American History.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An excellent film that is well acted, has
inspirational content and superb direction by Denzel Washington.
This Reviewer's Rating:   4.5 / 5
i want to see this movie soooo bad! Thanks for the review  |
