The Great Debaters
Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker; Directed by Denzel Washington
The Great Debaters is the story of four young black students who sought to make a difference through their superlative debate skills, sharing their opinions, and fighting for truths. Not an easy thing to do, and certainly not at all a cake walk in Depression-era Texas. The strain of living in that place and time takes the debate team and their beloved leader (played by Denzel Washington) through ups and downs of anger, confusion, love, trust, and fear. Family relationships are being strained by a controversial campaign to create a farmer’s union in the south. All the while, the Wiley College debate team is making amazing strides, quickly becoming undefeated after an incredible winning streak against other ‘black colleges’ in the south. Then the offers start pouring in from ‘white colleges’. Even Ivy League schools begin knocking at the door, and the Great Debaters soon find themselves with the ultimate chance to get their voices heard when they learn that their most prestigious tournament yet will be broadcast nationwide.
This was a very good film. The writing was really superb, never pandering to expectations of another Remember the Titans or the like. The casting team (along with director Denzel Washington) is to be commended as well. The four leads were virtual unknowns, and they held their own against heavyweights like Denzel himself and Forest Whitaker. I think the thing that impressed me most about the whole film was how emotion was dealt with. It ran as a threatening undercurrent for many scenes, building so that just when you expected an outburst or violent tirade, it vanished, choked out with the control and maturity you don’t find often.
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