The Great Debaters
Most stories would take these opportunities to get very melodramatic or to unleash a Shakespearean rant of some sort. The fist-pumping moments of fiery passion come exactly when they need to, never misapplied or misfired. The director is channeling the emotional response of the audiences with expert accuracy. He favors a lot of close-ups of the actors’ expressive eyes. I was almost exhausted by the end, but in a good way.
The better a great story is told, the more effective its’ message will be. The dignity and artistic prowess that The Great Debaters carries reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird. The story was mostly quiet, told by and about down-to-earth people who were real heroes. There was nothing flashy or exploitative about it. It cut right into the heart of the matter, reminded us to never forget the great sins and injustices that this nation has wreaked upon others to achieve its own selfish designs. But it also served to remind us to step up and speak out for the truth, and to honor and respect those with the courage to do it.
Originality = A
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = A-
Enjoyability = A-
Visuals = B+
Overall = A-
|
