"The Great Debaters" is about an underdog debate team that wins a national championship, and some critics have complained that it follows the formula of all sports movies by leading up, through great adversity, to a victory at the end. How many sports movies, or movies about underdogs competing in any way, have you seen that end in defeat? A wonderful cast and top-notch script elevate The Great Debaters beyond a familiar formula for a touching, uplifting drama.
There are enough things to admire about "The Great Debaters," the heavily fictionalized true story of The Little Debate Team That Could, that your impulse is to forgive the movie its shortcomings. Matthew Lucas From the Front Row. That's the name of the game.
According to Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters is, at its core, a sports movie focusing on the triumphs of the underdog. It's a war matched on the stage of debate, where teams battle it out with their brains instead of their brawn. The Great Debaters Movie Review Summary. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Great Debaters; A black debate team competes with white schools during civil unrest in America. He trains them with the goal that they. With Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker.
Trailer The Great Debaters
A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. The film co-stars Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker (no relation), Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker, Gina Ravera, Jermaine Williams and Jurnee Smollett.
THE GREAT DEBATERS is a movie-going treat, with young people exemplifying truth, respect, pride and dignity. In an entertaining way, with some preaching, this movie shows four African-American debaters succeeding in the face of adversity, growing stronger with success AND defeat. Their debates are lively and thought provoking. The Great Debaters was inspired by Wiley College, a traditionally African-American school in Marshall, and Melvin Tolson, its iconic debate coach.