Review - The Great Debaters

Studio/Production Company: MGM, Harpo Productions
Director: Denzel Washington
Written by: Robert Eisele
Rating: PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material involving violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality.
Release Date: December 25, 2007 (theater), May 13, 2008 (DVD)
Genre: Drama
Strong Points: Story is very uplifting; debates are well thought-out and exciting to watch.
Weak Points: Doesn't push the borders of its genre or really bring anything new to the table.
Technical Score: B-
Artistic Score: B
Final Score (not an average): B
Moral Warnings: Several uses of the N-word, a couple uses of "Jesus" as a curse, other mild language; very mature subject matter involving racism; a darkened shot of a man after he has been lynched; some sexual content that's very brief, but some visuals are shown.

The Great Debaters revolves around the debate team of the all-black Wiley College in the early 1930s and their undefeated debate season. Reminiscent of another Denzel Washington film about racism that came out a few years back (Remember the Titans), The Great Debaters deals with that issue on a mature level while still keeping things fairly family-friendly. And while the movie touches on its issues and tells its story with heart, it fails to bring out anything that we haven't seen before.

While there are complaints to be made about the film itself, it's impossible to deny the story's inspirational nature. To say that it's not uplifting would be a lie. After the first debate is over, the plot picks up and holds onto you with a firm grip as you begin to grow attached to the characters, while that little feeling deep inside you begins to warm - inspiration.

The script is fairly strong, though slightly unoriginal in its conception. Never once does the flow of the movie begin to slow. Instead it retains a steady pace from beginning to end, using familiar formulas to build up the intensity and equally familiar ones to bring it back down and proceed from there. Still, the aforementioned formulas are proven ones and carry the film through well enough.

The strongest part of the script is definitely the debates. They are surprisingly intense and very, very well written and acted. The fire in the characters' eyes is intense as they spout forth their wisdom to defeat their opponent with words. Some of the debate scenes are genuinely powerful and nearly make you want to stand up and applaud along with the audience in the film.

The chemistry between the actors, and particularly between the debate team members is top-notch. The three core members all deliver strong performances, and as young ones to the screen show plenty of potential for the future. All the third party acting is also remarkably strong and brings out that uneasy edge of racism on the screen.

The advertised actors of the film are masters of their craft - Denzel Washington and Forrest Whittaker, both of whom have won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Washington forTraining Day, Whittaker for Last King of Scotland). They couldn't give a bad performance if they tried, and the same holds true for The Great Debaters. Yet even so, not being able to give a bad performance doesn't mean that they'll bring their best to every film. And this film feels that way to me, moreso with Washington than Whittaker. Their acting is good, no doubt; but it's not exactly on par with what one has come to expect from these two gentlemen.

My guess is that Washington's acting would have been better if he had focused on his acting instead of his directing. Though, personally, I would have preferred it the other way around because his directing is good. The Great Debaters is only the second film Washington has directed, and it has been five years since that film (Antwone Fisher) came out. The lack of official experience and the gap of time between this film and that doesn't show. Washington proves that he has a sharp eye and a natural talent for directing. My imagination can run quite happily with the thought of what this man could become if he gets some more experience behind his back. Washington could very well be one of the next great filmmakers of our time.

But what holds the Great Debaters back in the 'good' area and prevents it from stepping over the much coveted line that defines 'great' is the lack of originality. It fails to present anything new to this genre of film. It instead relies heavily on what's known to work and sticks a bit too close to the instruction manual. As mentioned before, it feels a bit too reminiscent of films from the past. Debaters borrows from Remember the Titans and Hoosiers, but using a duel of words in place of sports. It works, yes, but it's not exactly the breath of fresh air you'd like.

Great Debaters does deal with mature subject matter with racism as the main theme. There are uncomfortable interactions between whites and blacks, the worst of all being when a group of blacks come across a group of whites that have just lynched a black man. The camera shot is darkened, but it is clear that the man has been hung and burned. Along with the racism, are several instances where the N-word is used, mostly with white men using it to address black men. Aside from that the language isn't very strong. There is is a very brief scene of sexuality, though the camera is too far away to really see much, and several kisses in various scenes. There is also a brief instance of drunkenness.

While its lack of originality holds it back from becoming a great film, The Great Debaters is still good in its own right and especially for its genre - a very uplifting movie experience that deals with the hard issues of racism, both past and present.

--Zak Mellgren (zak@revolve21.com)