Unfortunately for those thinking of seeing “The Great Debaters,” if you’ve seen the preview, you’ve already seen the movie.
Though this is not necessarily a bad thing (the preview correctly represents the film as the inspirational powerhouse that it is), it does suggest the air of same-old, same-old that prevails throughout the film.
But despite a definitely predictable plot and script, the film is well-executed, superbly acted and sufficiently emotional. The drama, directed by Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey, is based on a true story about the winning debate team at Wiley College in Texas in the 1930s.
As usual, Washington steals the show as Melvin Tolson, the idealistic and politically active professor at the small black college who inspires and teaches the eager team to argue with fervor.
The impressive ensemble cast consists of a few talented young newcomers playing members of the debate team, including Henry Lowe, the hot-headed and intelligent rebel (played by Nate Parker) and James Farmer Jr., the likable son of a prestigious professor (played by Denzel Whitaker). Jurnee Smollett is eye-catching as Samantha Booke, the one and only female debater in (what seems like) the world. Some of the best scenes are the ones in which the three students present their arguments, to crowds that always reward them with standing ovations.
Speaking of arguments, the Wiley College debaters always seem to be on the right side of every one. There is even one particular debate in which Wiley is arguing for the integration of black and white students in educational institutions, as the opposing white school takes on the con side. This may have very well been a true part of the story, but it was all-too-perfect occurrences like these that made the film so very cliched.
Other predictable aspects include the side story of the beautiful Samantha falling for none other than the smooth bad boy Henry. Surprise, surprise. Whoever didn’t see that coming within the first five minutes was watching the wrong movie.
The film is just as heartbreaking as it is motivational. Wiley’s debate team rose at a time of appalling racism. Each and every main character is affected personally by the cruelty that prevailed during that time. However, there is an exaggeration of racial differences in the film by vilifying some of the white characters more than was necessary to highlight the odds the black Wiley team faced.
In all of its debates, Wiley College manages to perfectly stand for the ideals of justice and equality. During the team’s final hurrah at the national championship against Harvard University, Wiley seems to somehow free the world from racism ““ it’s that momentous an event. Though we all know that this was not the case, that’s what the tear-jerking, standing-ovation finale seems to suggest.
One cannot help getting caught up in the standing-up-for-what’s-right message that prevails in “The Great Debaters.” On the other hand, the film also falls victim to an over-the-top strategy that begs the question: Is it possible for a movie to be too inspirational?
– Paige Parker