Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Great Debaters

Why are all the really good, uplifting movies the ones you never hear about? This was a great movie. It sounds like a movie theme we've seen a million times--a teacher/coach takes the underdog kids and makes them into champions.... And you're right--that was the basic premise. But there was so much more. A teacher (Denzel Washington) at a small college in Marshal, Texas builds up an award-winning debate team that goes on to compete against Harvard's aces. The movie also explores the social climate of Texas during the depression, including day-to-day insults, slights, and persecution African Americans and the working poor had to endure in the 1930s. The acting was incredible by some unknowns but Denzel Washington makes almost any movie worth seeing. This is not a movie for kids. There is some racial violence and it makes you face some unpleasant moments in American history. Have kleenex available.
(This is Gayle's review, but Jessica concurs.)

6 comments:

Hilary said...

Adding it to the queue right now :)

Unknown said...

Sounds like a good one. I don't think I've seen a movie with Denzel in it that I haven't liked.

Andrea said...

I'm with Rorie, Denzel is a very good actor.

Has anyone noticed that a lot of these types of shows take place in Texas (or at least the South). I guess it makes sense with the racial issue, but movies about the underdogs often seem to be in that region.

GAYLE said...

Has anyone out there seen this yet? I'm interested to know if you agree or disagree with my thoughts on it.

Andrea said...

Is this on video yet? I've been looking for it at Red Box, but don't see it.

GAYLE said...

I'm not sure if it's on video yet, but I did see it at the dollar movie theater, so it should be out soon.

 

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