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The Great Debaters

True story's worth telling but won't leave you with that much to discuss

By Matt Pais

Metromix
December 25, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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Fearless Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington, full of conviction) motivates the all-black debate team at Wiley College to rise above the racial strife in 1935 Texas, defend their rights and strive to take down their competitors—including all-white teams like Harvard. Based on a true story, the film also offers a disposable love triangle among three of the team's players (Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker).

Big question: Can Washington lend a personal touch to his first directorial effort since 2002's "Antwone Fisher"?

Catch it: Washington as a filmmaker works in big, unsubtle moves, but this is a sizable story in the never-ending racial struggle so we'll let it slide. It's a crowd-pleasing take on American history that recalls "Remember the Titans," as kids learn about hate first-hand and that words can, in fact, be a weapon—even if that's sometimes not enough to fully fight back.

Skip it: If you don't want to hear Tolson's fellow professor (Forest Whitaker) insist that a man must put away childish things when he becomes an adult. If playing Wii is wrong, we don't want to be right.

Bottom line: Debate hinges on the ability to argue either side equally well, and "The Great Debaters" neither presents surprising perspectives nor asks its debaters to play both sides. Of course, the movie's racial issues are meant to be weighted, and they anchor the need for America to nurture its leaders that are strong enough to stand up when no one else will.

Bonus: Just to clarify: When Henry Lowe (Parker) says, "School's the only place you can read all day, except prison," he's not suggesting that you get arrested just to catch up on your reading. You shouldn't need a warden to help you out with that!

mpais@tribune.com