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 The origins of the civil rights movement Nov 12, 2009
The Great Debaters is a wonderfully acted, well produced film about the first college debate between a black team, Wiley College, and a white team. (In the movie, the white team is Harvard, but in fact it was USC.) The plot of the movie revolves around the struggles of the debating team to achieve recognition during an era in which civil rights were a mere glimmer on their progenitors' eyes. (Not surprisingly, several of those progenitors were members of the debating team.) The outcome is predictable, so in that sense, this is a "feel-good" film. But the purpose of the film wasn't just to make us root for the underdog. The Great Debaters was clearly intended as a vehicle to portray the origins of the civil rights movement.
The movie makes some departures from historical events, but these were not of a nature to detract from the story. Where the final debate took place is not particularly important. What is important is that the film accurately depicted the hurdles faced by the black community in the 1930s. This was an era in which "justice" was often administered at the end of a rope, and in which being black was a crime in and of itself. The horrifying scene in which James Farmer, Jr. (who eventually became one of the "Big Four" of the civil rights movement), witnesses a lynching encapsulated the purpose of this film, which was to explain the need for civil rights. The debates, themselves, while probably departing significantly from the originals, served to present the arguments used by later civil rights advocates, notably Martin Luther King, Jr.
Unlike many films based on "true stories" the Great Debaters tackled the larger social issues of the times. Because these issues--the rights of minorities, the rule of law, constitutional authority--are still pertinent, still subject to heated discussion, and still worthy of our undivided attention, the great debate continues.
 Apple Pie Nov 05, 2009
If you like stuff like "The Star Spangled Banner" or "The Declaration of Independence" and do not hate stuff like butterflies or kittens, you'll probably enjoy this movie.
I can't say it does a whole lot for African-American culture, which is sortof what I expected going into it, but I suppose it does 'raise awareness' of some history. Unfortunately, the whole 'raising the awareness' of the American public business is a bit like giving a shiny new plastic novelty toy from China to a mentally handicapped child in an orphanage located in a well-to-do neighborhood. It's fine as long as you understand, going in, that tomorrow some other benevolent tourist will probably give the child yet another toy that will immediately take your toy's place.
Great Movie Oct 03, 2009
Showed this to a high school debate class. It really got the kids fired up about the passion the characters had for the art of debating. Another great acting role for Denzil Washington. I give this movie 5 stars for great entertainment.
 Multi-Layered- More Than Your Average Inspriational Movie Aug 17, 2009
I love me some Denzel. Have for quite sometime now. I generally catch every one of his movies at some point- and that's saying something as prolific an actor he is. But I've learned one thing about me and Denzel. I don't like him as a bad guy. I wanted to cry after watching the movie Training Day. Lately he's been playing far too many of these anti-hero type roles.
So when I saw The Great Debaters being hyped by Oprah- she produced it and he directed it- I was more than pleased. FINALLY another Denzel movie I can't wait to watch, despite the fact I just knew it was going to be yet another underdog-succeeds-with -inspiration- from- teacher- despite-everyone's-expections-otherwise-Huzzah-For-Our-Team, feel good kinda movie.
Of course it was just that and, did I mention, OPRAH PRODUCED IT?
But it was also much, much more.
The story starts out with some seemingly incongruous shots that make you question what exactly you're seeing. But it all blends together so perfectly, cinematogrophly we get a tiny snapshot of the Black experience of the 1930's all within the first five minutes.
It's here we meet for the first time several of our protagonists. One being Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) an all Black College professor who has just run through the woods, seemingly for his life. We also meet two students, one in church, the other at a gin joint, who will soon make up part of the debate team Tolson leads at Wiley College.
The other two are chosen from a tryout held at Tolson's house, and one just happens to be a, *gasp*, woman!
Tolson meets Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), a beautiful young man who has a penchant for reading- and getting into trouble, outside a that gin joint I mentioned earlier, deep in the woods. After saving him from a grave mistake, Tolson immediately recognizes someing raw in Lowe and recruits him. He also picks the young man we saw sitting in church, James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker- hmmm wonder who he's named after??,) whose father is played by another Oscar winner, Forest Whitaker- no relation as far as I can tell.
James Jr. is the youngest on the team- heck he's the youngest at Wiley College too. He's only fourteen, but oh does he have heart. He's also the one who quietly steals the movie right out from under those Oscar winners' feet!
Add to that the young lady and one young man from last year's team and Tolson's set to lead them to victory.
The crux of the movie is indeed the underdog theme I mentioned earlier. (Once the team gets started, they make win after win until invitations to debate far outside their regular sphere start rolling in.)
But what makes this movie good are a couple more layers I wasn't expecting.
They're living in Texas. In 1935. Jim Crow anyone? We watch as each character deals with life in that kind of afflicting atmosphere and I was amazed at how well these incidents were artfully woven into the tale and how it shaped them all- as well as the story!
Tolson, is not exactly all he seems, hence the running through the woods. But neither are any of the characters here either. There are so many moving moments in this film, I can't begin to recount them all. Some very uplifting, others- textured with something much deeper. Suffice to say the team does make it beyond Marshell Texas- to Harvard even!- and the journey there probably taught them more than the destination.
Really recommend this movie if your in the mood for something inspirational AND sobering. Be prepared to hear some over-reaching preaching, and the hammering home of this one fact, to quote a quoted line in the film, "An unjust law is no law at all."
Rent it. Buy it. Jul 21, 2009
The Great Debaters is a fine film and I recommend it. It has fiber, moral fiber, and lots of it. The Amazon review contains the structure of the movie. And I don't have anything original to say except that I think you should get it, watch it, and let the film's magic unfold in front of you. You won't be disappointed.
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