Rating: Sizzling Popcorn
“Gentlemen, and lady. Debate is combat, but your weapons are words…Debate is a blood sport. You must destroy your opponent verbally and physically. I am here to help you to find and keep your righteous mind.”
- Melvin B. Tolson
Inspired by a true story, The Great Debaters is the moving story of Wiley College’s debate team of the 1930’s. In a time when more than the odds are against them, controversial professor Melvin B. Tolson coaches the team of students from underdogs to champs, but there’s one thing in their way…the national championship debate team from Harvard University.
The Great Debaters features Denzel Washington as both director and actor. Denzel brings a great deal of realism to the film as he interviewed some of the remain students from the team to find out how they felt and how things were in Texas during the 1930’s. When asked what his first impressions were when he was asked to direct the film, Denzel Washington says, “When my agent sent me the script, I thought it was an interesting story about these young kids in this small school and how they overcame the odds. It’s like ‘The Little Engine That Could’ - going against the great universities of the 1930s.”
Denzel puts together a stellar cast of actors, including Forest Whitaker (Street Kings), Denzel Whitaker (The Ant Bully), Nate Parker (Pride), Jurnee Smollett (Gridiron Gang), and himself (American Gangster). Denzel Washington brings great power to his character, Melvin B. Tolson, and the movie overall with his choice of words and superb acting skills.
The Great Debaters is a must see inspirational and moving film. It will bring you back in time to give you a historical lesson. It is very important to not only know your own heritage but the heritage of others because it will give you a greater understand of where they come from and it will help us all to work together in this world instead of against each other. The Great Debaters comes out on DVD May 13th as a 2-disc collector’s edition.
Special Features:
o Commentary By Actor/Director Denzel Washington (both versions)
o Deleted Scenes (both versions)
o Documentary With Original Debaters
o Music Of THE GREAT DEBATERS
o Original Score With James Newton Howard
o Making Of THE GREAT DEBATERS
o Wardrobe Of THE GREAT DEBATERS
o A Visit To Wiley College
o Poetry Of Melvin Tolson (Still Gallery)
Release Date: December 25, 2007
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood
That sounds amazing. What a great cast and intense time period.
May 8th, 2008
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