The Great Debaters

Name: The Great Debaters
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: December 25, 2007
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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The Great Debaters

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: December 25, 2007

Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise

Summary: Believe in the power of words. Inspired by a true story, The Great Debaters chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African-American college in the Deep South into a historically elite debate team. ABelieve in the power of words. Inspired by a true story, The Great Debaters chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African-American college in the Deep South into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University's championship team. (The true story saw the team debating the University of Southern California.) [Weinstein Company]… Expand

Director: Denzel Washington

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Awards & Rankings

100	#100 Most Shared Movie of 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

This is a film that is affirming and inspiring and re-creates the stories of a remarkable team and its coach. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Walter Addiego

An edifying and forthright drama that aims to create a lump in the throat, and succeeds. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman

The Great Debaters is like one of those sentimentally revved youth-sports-team crowd-pleasers. This time, though, the sport is debating, and the setting is an elite black college in Marshall, Tex., in 1935 Read full review

Washington Post - Stephen Hunter

It's a great family movie, if not historically perfect, and something that a lot of people are going to like. Read full review

Baltimore Sun - Michael Sragow

Even when you're disappointed with the film's predictability, there's something invigorating about the way it embraces literacy and argument. Read full review

The New York Times - Stephen Holden

The wonder is that The Great Debaters transcends its own simplifying and manipulative ploys; it radiates nobility of spirit. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine - Ken Fox

Polished, pokey and cloyingly formulaic, Denzel Washington's directing follow-up to "Antwone Fisher" is a Harpo -- as in Oprah spelled backwards -- Production all the way. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

The Great Debaters is another inspirational tale of the oppressed, but unlike most, this film has the distinction of being pretty close to historically accurate. I was hesitant to see this film, because who wants to watch a film about a debate team? Denzel Washington, however, happens to beThe Great Debaters is another inspirational tale of the oppressed, but unlike most, this film has the distinction of being pretty close to historically accurate. I was hesitant to see this film, because who wants to watch a film about a debate team? Denzel Washington, however, happens to be one of my favorite actors, so I gave it a shot and learned quite a bit. The debate team was just an instrument, and was comprised of four people who would all go on to play significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement. The films follows award winning author, Melvin Tolson (Washington), on his journey to create the best African-American College debate team in the country, a team that would eventually go on to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. Everything about this movie was extremely powerful and well done. From the language to the graphic imagery to the story and the performances I was completely blown away by this film. I went into it thinking, if it's bad I'll turn if off after a half-hour. Now, I'm thinking about watching it again tomorrow. This is the way historical films should be done, The Great Debaters was fair, accurate, and just a great film!… Expand

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Jennifer

Dec 29, 2007

Awesome movie!!! This is a good quality film. Well done. Make sure you don't miss this movie. Very inspiring!

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AndrewK.

Jan 3, 2008

Unforgettable story of tenacity in the face of naked oppression.

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MartyK.

Dec 26, 2007

A truly inspiring story, very well acted, produced, and directed. You will definitely leave the theater feeling better than when you entered!

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bobbym

Dec 27, 2007

A really good film. I would have liked to have met the real Tolson. The lynching and the pig scenes explain much about the American Black experience. They provide rationale for understanding the emotional response of most Blacks even though lynching is no longer a real threat in America.

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greatjumel08

Aug 6, 2016

This film is exciting and inspiring. The story of racism and discrimination. How the black isolated from the white. What makes the story exciting is how they fought this kind of dilemma. They did not used violence or arms to stop it. But the power of words. The power of reasoning. The powerThis film is exciting and inspiring. The story of racism and discrimination. How the black isolated from the white. What makes the story exciting is how they fought this kind of dilemma. They did not used violence or arms to stop it. But the power of words. The power of reasoning. The power of imaginations which make the big difference. Facing the best University is not only bravery but also the spirit of unity. Enjoy watching!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JustinC.

Jan 19, 2008

Director Denzel Washington and producer Oprah Winfrey sizzle up the bacon with a smart idea. And you know what? This idea succeeds, director Denzel Washington certainly functioned this film with a heart, but no soul. It is mechanically let out, sappy, and weak. It isn't the spoiled Director Denzel Washington and producer Oprah Winfrey sizzle up the bacon with a smart idea. And you know what? This idea succeeds, director Denzel Washington certainly functioned this film with a heart, but no soul. It is mechanically let out, sappy, and weak. It isn't the spoiled product Denzel and Oprah are selling, and making money off of, and the Golden Globe nomination. It is the motion capture, it has crisp cinematography, but no fun. The day time being used for each scene is practically a seemingly 3:15 in the afternoon, with that sun starting to set, all nice and bright. It just bores you by the poor lighting, and camera-shot views. There is nothing special about this, just that I am very surprised what I am seeing here on the internet. What's the hype anyway? I didn't know so many people liked Oprah. Maybe its Denzel Washington, coming back to life on the big screen a month or so later than his previous installment American Gangster, starring as Frank Lucas. Just the problem with The Great Debaters is that Denzel's argument is Exceedingly weak, racism about black people in most movies is a settling downfall to see them do the exact same thing again in this. And they obviously win the debate, but its just a bore, it is pointless. The story is good, the movie could have came to a great success, but I was just left Awfully disappointed. This is probably the biggest letdown of the year.… Expand

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