THE GREAT DEBATERS
This is a solid, thought-provoking and absorbing drama from Mr Washington, and one that thoroughly deserved that recent Golden Globe nod for Best Motion Drama.
Denzel Washington Written by: Robert Eisele & based on the story he came up with Jeffrey Poro Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Kimberly Elise, Jurnee Smollet, Gina Ravera,John Heard Distributed by: MGM & The Weinstein Company Film was released in the U.S. on December 25th 2007 Review by Oliver Pfeiffer
rating: 4
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There was a nagging sense early on in The Great Debaters - Denzel Washingtons new period drama directorial debut - that I had witnessed this sort of racial, educational inspiring, triumph-against-all-odds genre piece many times before. After all its been barely 13 years since Michelle Pfeiffer donned a black leather jacket and enrolled herself to teach in a tough urban establishment in Dangerous Minds and only 10 years since Samuel L Jackson lost his temper as a dedicated science instructor in 187 (well perhaps thats not exactly triumphing against all odds nor inspiring for that matter). Then there have been other tense period racial dramas such as Spielbergs The Color Purple and Alan Parkers Missispi Burning. And we have all been inspired till death with the unhinged teaching styles of Sidney Poitier in To Sir, With Love, Robin Williams in Dead Poet's Society, Sir John Mills in It's Great To Be Young and Richard Dreyfus in Mr. Holland's Opus. So whats Washingtons film gonna teach that we havent already learnt before? Well, hes not gonna teach us anything, hes gonna sit and watch and push you into the frontline, thats what hes gonna do. Because The Great Debaters isnt about patronising the pants out of you, nor is it about standing on tables in class, no sir its about getting real and getting your message across as provocatively as you can, and as it happens its based on a true story of real triumph against the racist odds. Set in the town of Marshall, Texas 1935 the film charts the championing debate of the all-black Wiley College group of students who, under the observant eye of English teacher Melvin B Tolson (Denzel Washington), go to great strengths to defeat a slew of white colleges in the argumentative debate steaks. As we are told debate is bloodsport, its combat! and if theres anything that will get your message across firmly then it sure as hell is going to be outright, no bars held debate. To see if they behold the proverbial X Factor Tolson holds scrupulous auditions to grill his students under pressure and see if they can put forward arguments convincingly enough on the podium. He picks from this motley crew four kids who he thinks have the potential to take on the other universities in a national championship and win over racial injustice. But these are not your typical bright young things; they have character, can be disobedient and like to have a bit of fun too. Rather than steal the limelight Washington (who, lets admit it, can do this role in his sleep) wisely allows his gifted, inexperienced young cast the opportunity to stand out on their own ground and shine just as strongly as their characters attempt to strive in the film. In particular I was won over by Denzel Whitaker, (strangely no relation to neither Washington nor Forest Whitaker, who in fact plays his over-protective father in a small but well defined supporting role). He plays little 14-year-old James Farmer, Jr with such warmth, well meaning and inexperienced charm that you do really feel for him during his attempted struggles to win over both the older girl he yearns for, (the gorgeous Jurnee Smollett) and the college audience in the stage-fright inducing debates. The young cast, which also includes Nate Parker as ladies' man Henry, makes the film feel fresh and real and there are some nice touching warm adolescent moments between them. Aside from the scenes of debate there are also some deeply harrowing and pretty shocking moments in store too. Forest Whitakers apologetic barter with some racist pig farmers (after he accidentally runs over one of their livestock) is a real testament to the civil injustice and disobedience of those times. And so to is - an almost unrecognisably overweight - John Heard who makes for a pretty scary and obnoxious racist pig of a sheriff. Theres startling history lessons to be learn aswell, like the fact that in the early age black babies werent issued with a birth certificate (in effect born without record) and that the general early consensus for them was to keep the body and take the mind. And this all makes Mr Tolsons mission statement that hes here to take back and keep your righteous mind all the more inspiring. If theres a down side to this tense drama then its perhaps the climatic debate against the prestigious Harvard University campus itself, which promises in its purposely gradual build up to be a powerful confrontation and ends up scoring a little below par. Having only provided us with short snip bits of the other college debates throughout the film expectations were high for something less clichéd and more dramatically fuelled than what we eventually get here. Instead we get a routine racial lesson and a surprise guest who never takes the stand, and who you secretly yearn to be Al Pacino, so he can shake up the whole state of affairs, just like he did in a similar campus setting in his beautiful Oscar winning turn in Scent of a Women. But dont let this dissuade you though as what is presented to us is adequate enough, even if you are slightly overwhelmed with the realisation that Tolsons debaters always appear to be on the righteous side of things. Never mind as this is a solid, thought-provoking and absorbing drama from Mr Washington, and one that thoroughly deserved that recent Golden Globe nod for Best Motion Drama.