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The Great Debaters
Genius Products (TVN) Product Details |
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Inspired by real events, the fascinating The Great Debaters reveals one of the seeds of the Civil Rights Movement in its story of Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington in a captivating performance) and his champion 1935 debate club from the all-African-American Wiley College in Texas. Tolson, a Wiley professor, labor organizer, modernist poet, and much else, runs a rigorous debate program at the school, selecting four students as his team in '35, among them the future founder of the Congress of Racial Equality, James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Washington, who directed The Great Debaters from a script by Robert Eisele (The Dale Earnhardt Story), anchors the story with the team's measurable progress, but the film is also about the state of race relations in America at the height of the Great Depression. With lynchings of black men and women a common form of entertainment and black subjugation for many rural whites, the idea of talented and highly intelligent African-American young people learning to think on their feet during debates would seem almost a hopeless endeavor. But that's not the way Tolson sees it, as his students serve themselves and the cause of racial equality in America with energetic arguments in favor of progressive government and non-violence as a viable social movement. There are some startling moments in this movie, particularly the sight of a man found lynched and burned to death, and an extraordinary moment in which we see black sharecroppers and white farmers engaged with Tolson in arguments about unionizing together. Forest Whitaker is outstanding as Farmer's emotionally-reserved father, also a Wiley professor. This is the kind of film where one hopes two great actors such as the elder Whitaker and Washington will have a scene together, and when it comes it's as powerful as one might hope. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Two-time Academy AwardŽ winner Denzel Washington (American Gangster) directs and stars with Academy AwardŽ winner Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland) in this important and deeply inspiring page from the not-so-distant past (Richard Roeper, At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper). Inspired by a true story, Washington shines as a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African American college students into an historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite. DVD Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
The Great Debaters: An Historical Perspective. That's What My Baby Likes; Music Video.
My Soul Is A Witness; Music Video
Theatrical Trailer
Sneak Peeks: Grace is Gone, Cassandra's Dream, I'm Not There, Hunting Party
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The Great Debaters
- DVD: 0 pages (2008-05-13)
- Publisher: Genius Products (TVN)
- Label: Genius Products (TVN)
- Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Damien Leake, Gregory Nicotero, Brian Smiar
- Encoding: Region 1
- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
- Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Studio: Genius Products (TVN)
- DVD Release Date: 2008-05-13
- Run Time: 124
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 73 reviews
- Sales Rank in DVD: #1252
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Riveting from start to finish 2009-01-06
Comment: I really liked this movie; acting, dialogue, photography. It all worked for me and I'm a fairly picky person. The historical aspect was new to me. I would recommend it without reservation.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fabulous film 2008-11-25
Comment: It's a fabulous film because it gives an overview of historical events in the US and the acting is excellent
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring, but a debatable messing with history 2008-11-17
Comment: "The Great Debaters" is the story of an unlikely team of black debaters in 1930s Texas. Coming from little-known Wiley College, they go on to compete with the best debating clubs in the land. The film gives a heart-stopping portrayal of the violence and intimidation faced by American Americans during the period. A lynching scene is especially harrowing. It was an era when lynching was commonplace and a pig-farming white man could get away with intimidating a black PhD. Great performances from Denzel Washington and Forrest Whittaker as the debate coach and college chaplain. Wonderful supporting roles from the rest of the cast. The writing is first rate, making it seem cool and exciting to pull quotes from Thoreau, Hughes and Gandhi out of your head. There were a number of interesting subplots that wove their way through the narrative. Denzel's character organized laborers on the side; a lakeside shack serves as blues/gospel hangout. A requisite love story between two of the debaters took the steam off the film's intellectual bent.
(Spoilers)
Some concerns. Trying to communicate to a 21st century audience the razor's edge walked by 1930s blacks was mishandled. Given the dangerous times they lived in, the black debaters were almost militant in their arguments. Even a northern university audience might have been alarmed at the veiled threats being made. Then too, the movie erred in following the standard "Remember The Titans" cinematic model in which Denzel leads an unlikely team to beat the best in the league. Sticking closer to history, in which Wiley was less than completely victorious in the literal sense would have been more accurate. Perhaps the movie makers didn't think we could handle the truth that progress for blacks in the 1930s was gained a tiny step at a time. And that audiences can appreciate the import of symbolic victory.
Still, I found "The Great Debaters" to be riveting and watchable. The DVD extras, in which Denzel interviews elderly Wiley College grads gave texture into a difficult era. A great weekend family (teen and up) film and great to show your high school debate club.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Great Debaters 2008-11-16
Comment: Highly, recommended as a movie to be watched by students in the various
school systems. For encouragement, dedication and building of character .
Excellent production.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Great Debaters 2008-11-12
Comment: Not what you think it would be. Great moving movie. Only thing I didn't like was Denzel's hair.
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