The Great Debaters
The movie is a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a poet and professor at Wiley College Texas, who forms a team of strong-minded, intelligent young students, and they become the first black debate team to challenge Harvard's prestigious debate champions.
20 May 1966, San Francisco, California, USA
1 September 1979, Montgomery, Alabama, USA
13 February 1974, Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
27 June 1985, McKinney, Texas, USA
17 April 1967, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
July1952, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
9 October 1978, Alexandria, Egypt
August 22, 2008
This is a wonderfully acted and directed movie, that has something important to say
May 02, 2008
There's a real organic sense in the film of how young minds can be nurtured and energized way beyond sex, sports and slacker attitude, into caring and evolving kid works-in-progress. And how debating can be pretty cool too, who knew?
December 28, 2007
The Great Debaters is well-acted, deeply felt and delivers a positive message about the importance of education.
March 17, 2008
Enough fictional liberties were taken with The Great Debaters to make it fit neatly on the inspirational genre shelf, but it's grounded in enough reality to excuse Eisle's we-shall-overcome contrivances
December 28, 2007
...The Great Debaters soars with words and feeling.
January 03, 2008
The Great Debaters succeeds in bringing a lump to the throat without, as is de rigueur these days, insulting our intelligence.
September 08, 2008
Washington directed as well as starred, and it is clear he has no trouble wearing both hats at once
December 28, 2007
The film may be manipulative in its construction, and cliché-ridden in some of the incidents it recounts, but it has a good, large heart.
June 01, 2008
I was having mediocre day and I walked out of the movie totally pumped up and ready for the rest of the day, even though it was 10pm at night.
January 29, 2008
Despite its transparent manipulations, the film is more decent than it deserves to be, particularly when the kids step up to the podium and get passionate
April 10, 2008
The acting is great and care is taken to develop these characters into people we can root for.
