-
Trust Weighted
Great
-
104Trust Points
Wick's Review
Summary - Great 4.0
Anti-denigration: The Great Debaters teaches us the root of ‘denigration’ and much more, especially how Wiley College’s debate team rose up to defend their rightful position as heirs to American greatness.
Every history lesson should be this entertaining: Denzel Washington sees to that, directing himself, Forest Whitaker and a bevy of charismatic newcomers in a Hollywood-slick production.
Acting - Very Good 3.5
Playing a flamboyantly verbal character, Denzel perhaps goes a bit over the top in his performance. But being a truly great movie star, we forgive him his excesses.
Forest Whitaker gives yet another stalwart performance. While I admire him, it often seems that he appears in great roles more than delivers great performances, bringing to mind the classic Woody Allen quote that “80% of success is showing up.”
The young actors playing the debate team are each terrific, especially Nate Parker as handsome bad boy Henry Lowe.
Male Stars - Really Great 4.5
Female Stars - Great 4.0
Female Costars - Very Good 3.5
Male Costars - Very Good 3.5
Film - Really Great 4.5
Outstanding production, if a bit overly dramatic in its quiet moments. Oprah Winfrey and her fellow producers have created – behind Denzel’s direction and nonpareil acting – a movie for the ages, one that enters the canon of definitive African-American cinematic stories.
Direction - Great 4.0
Extremely well directed by Denzel Washington himself, with clever and effectively constructed scenes throughout, gripping action sequences, and a full ensemble of actors that each get to strut their stuff.Dialogue - Great 4.0
Well written, though there was a bit too much emphasis on dragging out maximum drama from each and every scene. Of course, the love triangle and romantic betrayal did deliver notable entertainment value.Music - Perfect 5.0
Love the blues.Visuals - Perfect 5.0
Perfect period piece: from Jim Crow Texas to blue blood Harvard, the movie is like a time machine.Edge - Risqué 1.8
Mature ’tweens and up should see this movie for its depiction of the best and the worst of relatively recent American history, and for the gripping portrayal of family dynamics.
Sex Titillating 1.7
Violence Fierce 1.6
Rudeness Salty 2.0
Reality - Glib 1.2
Harvard substitutes for USC: as I often say “Based on real events is Hollywoodspeak for bring on the dancing girls.” Or in this case, the Crimson debate team.