| The Great Debaters |
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| Reviews - Movies | |
| Written by John Delia | |
| Monday, 24 December 2007 | |
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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: |
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Rated: PG-13
4.5 / 5
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