Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
The Great Debaters is a 2007 historical biographical film directed by Denzel Washington and stars Denzel Washington, Forrest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker and John Heard. The story follows the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school’s first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.
UNDER THE LENS: DEBATE AS SPORTS
Debate as Sports: Coming into The Great Debaters I was not sure what to expect, and I ended up getting an intellectual sports picture. By this, I mean that at its core The Great Debaters is a classic “Sports” movie, about a team that at first does not get along but then through the mentorship of a great coach manages to find its rhythm and rise to the top. In this case though, instead of “Games” we get verbal debates leading to a debate championship at Harvard. It works well, and in between we get some backstory on the various team members and “Coach” Tolson himself. The picture does have a few slight tonal issues, as it tries to be an inspirational sports story, a real-life biopic, a political oppression narrative about communism and capitalism, and a portrait of the Jim Crowe South.
It’s a lot to juggle, and Denzel Washinton for the most part does manage to steer the ship into good narrative waters, by focusing less on the large-scale issues and more on how those issues impact the characters. For example, we see the brutal aftermath of a lynching, and while this brutality feels out of place at first we see how it impacts the arguments of the leads later on.
Denzel was overall smart to frame this picture as an inspirational sports story, it takes an overly intellectual subject and brings it down to earth as the focus is on the debaters and their lives not the sport itself.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Denzel Whitaker is a standout, he truly becomes his character and feels like he really is the son of Forrest Whitaker’s character.
- The picture is filled with memorable quotes, but a highlight is when Tolson sits in a boat and makes his students repeat a mantra.
- Denzel Washington delivers a powerful performance as Melvin Tolson, he is passionate, quirky, and intelligent.
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Melvin B. Tolson: I and every professor on this campus are here to help you to find, take back, and keep your righteous mind… because obviously you have lost it.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
The Great Debaters has a message of peaceful resistance and that oppression is defeated by intelligent discussion and debate as a means to win hearts and minds. Do you agree with this approach? Why or why not?
CONCLUSION
The Great Debaters is a somber and dramatic look at the world of Jim Crowe South and the intellectual rise of those who live there. It’s anchored by strong performances from Denzel Washington and the younger cast. Its a picture seeks to impress its view of the world onto its viewers much, in the same way, its Debaters do, with logic and reason. The Picture does suffer from some tonal issues jumping from scenes of savagery to humorous moments, under the firm hand of Denzel Washington the narrative does not falter much and remains a dramatic and poignant true story. If one is interested in sports stories of just the triumph of the human spirit The Great Debaters is not to be missed.
