Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

TeenzTen An action-packed slog

vincentlynch-moonoi My general rule is not to review films that already have at least 100 reviews here on IMDB. On rare occasions I make an exception.We've certainly all seen bad movies. And good movies. And even great movies. And once in a while a movie comes along that's truly inspirational. This movie is inspirational. And, with a few adjustments to history, it's true. It's the story of a debating team from a "Negro" college in Texas which goes on to national acclaim. The film was produced by Ophra Winfrey (among others), and directed by Denzel Washington. I give Denzel great credit for what he brought together here.Denzel Washington not only directed the film, but starred in it...sort of. I actually would call it more of an ensemble cast. But Washington is excellent here as the professor who leads the debating team. as Melvin B. Tolson, who became a noted poet and author (among other things). I've never been impressed with Forest Whitaker (who plays the father of James Farmer, Jr. here), but this time I thought his performance was quite good. Denzel Whitaker, a young actor and rapper plays a thoughtful role here as James Farmer, Jr., the man who later founded the Congress Of Racial Equality, and is one of the debaters here. I thought he did well here, but I'll need to see him in some other things before I can decide whether he is a steady actor (he is in "Black Panther", which happens to be in theaters as I write this). When I first saw Nate Parker starring in "Birth Of A Nation", I was not impressed. Here, as one of the debaters, I was impressed. Jurnee Smollett (brother of Jussie) plays the female debater here. I think it's a decent performance, but perhaps the accent was slathered on a bit heavy. I've seen her in other things (such as "Underground"), and she is quite a good actress.I won't relate the whole story here, but I will point out a couple of things. First, the segment where the debaters and their coach run into a lynching is quite jarring, but very well done. I don't why Denzel Washington, as director, changed the climactic debate from the University Of California to Harvard...the deviation from actual history made no sense to me. I do fault the film for not explaining how Denzel's character does show up at Harvard, when he was legally prevented from leaving Texas. It could have been explained in about 30 seconds.But that's nitpicking. This is a truly fine film.

SnoopyStyle It's 1935 Wiley College Texas. Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington) coaches the debate team with a bunch of raw youngsters. James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker) is one of the kids. His father Dr. James Farmer Sr. (Forest Whitaker) is an over bearing preacher. Meanwhile Tolson is trying to organize both black and white farm hands to unionize.This movie has its moments. Directed by Denzel Washington, this movie allows all the actors to shine. But as a visual drama, debates are not the most physical endeavors. If the competitions are real, they do not make for a compelling story. After all, good debaters take both sides of the debates with equal gusto. There are some good exchanges. However the debates feel both overwrought and fake. It's arguable whether a real debating contest could ever be truly cinematic.The movie is very earnest in its story. There are great slices of the time. The unionizing effort seems to be the better story. And the puppy love is too much melodrama. I can't really feel sorry for the boy. Mostly for the subject matter and the great actors involved, I would recommend this movie.

Thanos Karagioras "The Great Debaters" is a movie that is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas who coaches the debate team of the college. This debate team it's going to be undefeated for a long time and that will be something that will make the University if Harvard to invite them to debate with them. That was the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges.It is a very good movie that show us the true face of racial racism and how that effects the relationships between the people. In this movie I liked the performances of Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson, Forest Whitaker as Dr. James Farmer, Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr. and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Samantha Booke."The Great Debaters" is a movie that everyone have to see it and try to understand the situation of time (1935).

sandtonvideo Denzel Washington directs and stars in this inspirational true story set in the Texas of 1935, about tiny "Negro" Wiley College, where teacher Melvin Tolson (Washington) was the debate coach. That particular year, he took real chances with his selections for the team, taking for the team a brilliant but prone to trouble young man, the team's first woman, and the very young son of the formidably erudite pastor Dr. James Farmer (Forest Whitaker). The team went on to be the first "Negro" college to take on "White" universities in debates, and inspired many, including the team members, to an awakening of their own awareness of the injustice of prejudice in the United States. This is a wonderful movie that deserved to be seen by more people, for its inspirational message that words do matter, and being able to eloquently formulate arguments can change lives. The real James Farmer Jr. went on to become one of the most prominent civil rights activists in the United States, and the others led lives of similar distinction. On the down side, the movie does take liberties with actual events to such an extent as to be disturbing to those wanting to know more about the true story; but probably wisely in terms of making a more enjoyable drama to watch. Recommended for anyone in the mood for an inspirational story.