The Great Debaters PG-13

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
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Format:  DVD
item number:  XCRJ
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DVD Details

  • Rated: PG-13
  • Run Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes
  • Video: Color
  • Encoding: Region 1 (USA & Canada)
  • Released: May 13, 2008
  • Originally Released: 2007
  • Label: Weinstein

Performers, Cast and Crew:

Starring , , , , , &
Performer: &
Directed by
Edited by
Screenwriting by
Composition by &
Story by &
Produced by , , &
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Entertainment Reviews:

Certified Fresh79%

TOMATOMETER
Total Count: 131

Upright86%

AUDIENCE SCORE
User Ratings: 116,782
The debate is over. THE GREAT DEBATERS is one of the great movies of 2007. Full Review
Behind The Lens
Nov 6, 2019
THE GREAT DEBATERS soars with words and feeling... -- Grade: B
Entertainment Weekly
Jan 11, 2008
Rating: 3.5/4 -- An old fashioned feel-good movie, well acted and solidly crafted - the kind of which there will always be room for. Full Review
From the Front Row
Jul 5, 2019
Rating: C -- 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 Full Review
I.E. Weekly
Jan 29, 2008
Rating: B -- The Great Debaters succeeds in bringing a lump to the throat without, as is de rigueur these days, insulting our intelligence. Full Review
Christian Science Monitor
Jan 3, 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? Full Review
NewsBlaze
May 2, 2008
The Great Debaters is well-acted, deeply felt and delivers a positive message about the importance of education.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Dec 28, 2007

Product Description:

IN THEATRES DECEMBER 25, 2007

Denzel Washington directs and stars in this uplifting drama based on a true story about a small East Texas all-black college in 1935 that rises to the top of the nation's debate teams in a duel against Harvard. A poet and debating coach at Wiley College, Professor Melvin Tolson (Washington) sees debating as "a blood sport" and recruits the meanest and brightest, including troubled Henry (Nate Parker), driven Samantha (Jurnee Smollet), and the 14-year-old prodigy James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (no relation) plays Farmer's father, the initially unsupportive president of the school. There's tough training, romantic heat over the attentions of fiery Samantha (the first girl on the team), and some no holds-barred racism (including a witnessed lynching) before the big match-up against the Ivy League school, adding to the overall emotional force. Though feel-good historical competition movies like this have been done before, Washington serves up his effort as a lean, mean family dinner, with minimum fuss and maximum nutritional-educational value. Historical accuracy may be thrown to the wind more than once--Farmer is the only real student among the team, and the final debate was against USC, not Harvard--but the acting is uniformly superb. It's great to watch these kids slowly incorporate Tolson's incredible poise and intellectual rigor into their lives, and the message is as important as ever. Oprah Winfrey served as producer.

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Product Info

  • Sales Rank: 38,492
  • UPC: 796019810708
  • Shipping Weight: 0.16/lbs (approx)
  • International Shipping: 1 item

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