00s Movie Review - The Great Debaters

Director: Denzel Washington
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker, Kimberly Pearl, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Gina Ravera

Description: Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) is 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.

Review: “The Great Debaters” is a very nice film about the emancipation of the black community in the US. It’s about racial inequality in schools (and society) in the 1930s.

Denzel Washington plays teacher Melvin Tolson, who inspires students to start the first debate team, eventually challenging Harvard University.

Denzel Washington is a fantastic actor, but also directed “The Great Debaters”. He proved earlier with “Antwone Fisher” that he is capable of directing a good film. And he shows it again with “The Great Debaters”.

Overall, “The Great Debaters” is an inspirational story, well-told and performed. A film I believe many people have not seen yet.

Rating: 3,5/ 5