The Justin Alt Film Review - The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters
Rated PG-13
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker
Directed by: Denzel Washington
This is the true story of Professor Melvin B. Tolson of Wiley College in Texas, who mentors and inspires the young students in his debate team to challenge some of the most prestigious schools in the nation, including Harvard.
Seems like just another underdog story--which it is--but the index cards are really stacked against Tolson's debate team. They are an all-black debate team living in Texas in the year 1935. Not good odds for success. Besides just honing their craft as debaters, the young students have more pressing matters to deal with, like avoiding lynchings and constant threats against them from white locals.
Denzel Washington does another fine job, this time playing Professor Tolson, adding much needed depth to some of the scenes with the students, but plays a more passive role at the same time. This works against the film in some very crucial scenes as the young actors just don't have the chops to carry the moment, especially the young actor Denzel Whitaker (no relation to Washington or Whitaker, obviously). Of the younger cast, actor Nate Parker who plays rebellious debater Henry Lowe, did a stand-out job and I look forward to seeing him more in the future. You could fit his IMDB resume on a tiny crib sheet at this point, so it's obvious he has some natural ability.
Actress Jurnee Smollett plays the only (and maybe first ever?) female debater of the Wiley College team, and really lays on the southern belle accent to an obnoxious level. There has to be one dialect coach in the biz that can straighten out this recurring dialectal dilemma! Whoever you are, please contact Julia Robert's agent first!
Forest Whitaker is such an interesting guy on screen and I always enjoy seeing what he brings to each part he plays, big or small. Whitaker plays the highly educated, faith oriented father of the youngest debater on the team. I'm glad to see him still on his game after the Oscar win last year.
All-in-all, The Great Debaters will entertain and enlighten you without ever showcasing an actual debate (save for maybe the final one), which would have been nice. Most of the debates are cross-dissolve montage extravaganzas for Wiley College and their rival teams and the suspense of actual competition is lost. I would blame director Denzel Washington for this editorial decision, but he does no wrong in my eyes. Let's blame producer Oprah Winfrey instead.
I give this movie an "affirmative argument in favor of renting for the poignant scenes."
Also, a shout-out to my old friend and carpooling cast member Kelvin Payton, who has a small speaking part in this film. It was surreal seeing your face and name on the big screen Kel! Keep it up pal.
Justin had fun writing this at 9:05 PM
Rated PG-13
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker
Directed by: Denzel Washington
This is the true story of Professor Melvin B. Tolson of Wiley College in Texas, who mentors and inspires the young students in his debate team to challenge some of the most prestigious schools in the nation, including Harvard.Seems like just another underdog story--which it is--but the index cards are really stacked against Tolson's debate team. They are an all-black debate team living in Texas in the year 1935. Not good odds for success. Besides just honing their craft as debaters, the young students have more pressing matters to deal with, like avoiding lynchings and constant threats against them from white locals.
Denzel Washington does another fine job, this time playing Professor Tolson, adding much needed depth to some of the scenes with the students, but plays a more passive role at the same time. This works against the film in some very crucial scenes as the young actors just don't have the chops to carry the moment, especially the young actor Denzel Whitaker (no relation to Washington or Whitaker, obviously). Of the younger cast, actor Nate Parker who plays rebellious debater Henry Lowe, did a stand-out job and I look forward to seeing him more in the future. You could fit his IMDB resume on a tiny crib sheet at this point, so it's obvious he has some natural ability.
Actress Jurnee Smollett plays the only (and maybe first ever?) female debater of the Wiley College team, and really lays on the southern belle accent to an obnoxious level. There has to be one dialect coach in the biz that can straighten out this recurring dialectal dilemma! Whoever you are, please contact Julia Robert's agent first!
Forest Whitaker is such an interesting guy on screen and I always enjoy seeing what he brings to each part he plays, big or small. Whitaker plays the highly educated, faith oriented father of the youngest debater on the team. I'm glad to see him still on his game after the Oscar win last year.
All-in-all, The Great Debaters will entertain and enlighten you without ever showcasing an actual debate (save for maybe the final one), which would have been nice. Most of the debates are cross-dissolve montage extravaganzas for Wiley College and their rival teams and the suspense of actual competition is lost. I would blame director Denzel Washington for this editorial decision, but he does no wrong in my eyes. Let's blame producer Oprah Winfrey instead.
I give this movie an "affirmative argument in favor of renting for the poignant scenes."
Also, a shout-out to my old friend and carpooling cast member Kelvin Payton, who has a small speaking part in this film. It was surreal seeing your face and name on the big screen Kel! Keep it up pal.
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