The movie “The Great Debaters” is about the 1935 debate team from Wiley College in little ole Marshall, Texas. Denzel Washington plays a role that is a little different from his usual good cop role, but only a little. He plays Professor Melvin B. Tolson, the debate team coach and unbeknownst to the town or even his wife, a spokesman for the sharecroppers union. As you would come to expect Washington just becomes the role, so much so that he’s been nominated for a few awards. Forrest Whitaker plays James Farmer in the movie. Whether or not the real James Farmer was a bit odd is unknown but Whitakers portrayal is definitely a bit odd. Even with these two great actors in the movie the three young kids on the debate team stole the show. Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, and Denzel Whitaker (no relation) play the three kids on the debate team. If this is the talent level of these three young kids you can expect to be seeing them in the future. The emotion they display throughout the movie really draws you in. The actors really do an excellent job of portraying this important story. The movie does a great job of becoming a snap shot of that era. One of the things of the movie that will really grab your attention is that Denzel Whitaker’s character is only 14 years old and in college. This movie was great all around and is well deserved of all the nominations it’s received. If you’re a fan of Washington or movies at all you should do yourself a favor and see this movie.
The Great Debaters took place in 1935 at Wiley College Texas. Mel Tolson (Denzel Washington) is a professor who wants to encourage his students to have big dig dreams in debating. He coaches a African American debate team to victory all over the nation. I thought the movie was not a bad movie. But the title of the movie kind of throws you off. The movie had a little about the debating team, but the movie more seem to emphasize on the racism in the the 1930’s more than debating. The movie showed how the life of a African American had to deal with the troubles in society. It was weird to see Nate Parker (who played the character Henry Lowe) on the movie screen because he went to my High School at Great Bridge. The character he played was very predictable, a young kid that has no parent background being very rebellious. Nate Paker played the role very well, but his character is almost the same in any racist movie. I would recommend this movie to other people and I gave it one thumb up
The Great Debaters attempts tells the story of the Wiley College debate team and their triumphs and tribulations during 1935 era. At first glance, a viewer would believe the movie will actually tell the story about a great debate team, however; this movie had many underlying motives which tend to upstage the main storyline. This movie would be better titled the scourge of the south. Very little of the movie actually cultivates the debate team’s great victory tale. My impression was the writer used the debate team’s great story as a ploy to write about the level of racism in the South. In this aspect, the movie did an excellent job of revealing the racial tensions in Texas and how different African-Americans handles the situation. For example, in the beginning of the movie Proffesor Tolson (Denzel Washington) holds tryouts for the debate team. I felt this part of the plotline was never really developed, in contrast; shortly after this scene, Dr. Farmer (Forrest Whitaker) hits a white man’s pig in the road. The white men call the Doctor “boy” and force him to overpay for the pig. This scene was one of the most powerful moments in the film. At this point I began to view the movie as a comment on the attitude of the south, rather than the fate of the debate team.
The story does well to develop each character, Henry (Nate Parker) was a rebellious individual who has seen the world and has learned how the world of racism works. His performance was exceptional, as well as the rest of the cast.
All in all, the movie was a great story, with a little more development of the debate team sub-plot this film could have been exceptional.
Loyal , dedicated, and determined are just a few words that can describe the characters from the true story The Great Debaters. The characters at the core of the movie, James Farmer Jr., Samantha Booke and Henry Lowe all displayed these characteristics and made this phenomenal story into a very enjoyable movie. Of course the team had to face the ugliness of racism to succeed but each of them had their own internal battles to face.
James Farmer Jr. was child wise behind his years. Perhaps due to his religious upbringing and loving yet strict father he was able to attend college at the age of 14. He far exceeded the educational level of a 14 year old but at times he showed he the emotional level of any 14 year old. From the crush he immediately developed on Samantha, to the betrayal he felt as he saw her fall for Henry, to the curiosity he showed by following Melvin to the sharecroppers secret meeting, James showed he was not unlike any other 14 year old.
Samantha Booke had the honor of being the first woman to become a member of the Willey College debate team. Determined to make her mark on the team Samantha was forced into competition after the teammate Hamilton Burgess quit the team due to philosophical differences with Tolson. At times it looked like she would not succeed, mainly due to initial jitters and then the unfaithfulness of Henry. But she stood strong and overcame each obstacle thrown her way
Henry Lowe was a complex womanizing character who would not let anyone or anything stop him from reaching his goals. He also proved to be a loyal team member when after walking away from the team he came back and decided to not jump into the spotlight at the Harvard debate. By letting James have his chance at the Harvard debate he proved not only was he a good teammate but he proved he could be a good mentor to young James and eventually a reliable friend to Samantha.
“The Great Debaters” brought to light a true and inspiring story. This movie tells of a debate team who literally kicked down every obstacle that was place in its way. They wanted to make a bold declaration to the world that they were as educated as any white or black college in America. I think this movie is a great way to show today’s youth that they don’t need to revert to violence to be heard. African American’s in the early 1900’s faced far more obstacles and challenges that we face today yet this little team didn’t get their voices heard by doing any of the obscured things we do today to be seen or even heard. They made history with their intellectual minds.
Inspired by a true story, the movie the “Great Debaters” I thought was very inspirational as well as educational. It had heart and it was a well scripted intelligent movie. I found myself taking quotes from the movie such as “We do what we have to so we are able to do what we want to while we’re here.” I think that it is important to be reminded of the positive change in history and the progress that has occurred in United States. History has proved that if something needs to be done it takes effort from the people who want change. Denzel Washington played Melvin Tolson an English professor and debate team coach for Wiley College. The setting took place in Marshall Texas during the 1930’s. Slavery had been abolished however; society remained ignorant towards equality and the rights of all people. Melvin Tolsen told his debate team “I am here to help you to find, take back, and keep your righteous mind” another powerful quote used in the movie. The storyline was interesting as well as heartfelt.
The Great Debaters is the best movie of 2008 by far. It was based on a true story that took place in 1935 at Wiley College. Melvin Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, was the debating coach at the college. At the Being of the semester Professor Tolson held tryout for the debate team after school. Henry Lowe (Nate Parker) and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams) were the main debaters, while Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollet) and James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker) were the researchers. James Farmer Jr. was my favorite character. He really looked up to Professor Tolson and also his father. I loved the relationship between James Jr. and James Senior, it was very touching how close their relationship was and he wanted to make his father proud. James Jr. also had the hotts for Samantha Booke, with an e, it was so sweet that he how he tried to show off to her. Samantha was fond of Henry instead, even though he was known for drinking and playing around with other girls. The movie ended in Boston at Harvard. They were invited by the University to debate their team. Wiley College was the first black college to debate against Harvard. They were the underdog and no one thought they would win even though they were on a winning streak. They proved everyone wrong and ended up going 10 years as an undefeated team. This movie was very touching and inspirational. I recommend this movie to anyone going to the movie this weekend. (I can hook you up with some free popcorn too!)
The movie “The Great Debaters” is about Professor Melvin B. Tolson, who was a debate team coach for Wiley College which is a small college in Marshall, Texas in 1935.He puts together a debate team that comes to be a great team "hence the name".The movie entertaining, they managed to teach us something.shows some insight on how life was for african americans in the south. The story seemed to take you on a ride with the debaters as they proceeded to demolish all of their opposition. Ultimately the struggles of the debate team and their teacher pitted them in a historical meeting against a white college by the name of Harvard in which Wiley College prevailed. I personally enjoyed the movie it was informative as well as.
The Great Debaters was an excellent movie and probably one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. It is a great, uplifting, inspirational story that has no difficulty keeping the audience engrossed for the duration of the film. With the entire main story revolving around the school’s successful debate team, all the subplots and character dynamics only add more intrigue, from the romantic relationship between the characters of Samantha and Henry to the father-son relationship in the Farmer family to Mel Tolson’s struggle against the town’s authority. The underlying theme of racial oppression adds so much tension that it serves as the antagonist of the movie.
There are many different elements of the film that are handled brilliantly. One aspect is the acting from each character, with Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker providing great models for each Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker, and Jurnee Smollett to follow. It is as if with those two actors to lead the way the rest had no choice but to turn in a great performance. The acting was done so well that it alone is enough to warrant a recommendation of this movie from me.
The movie the Great Debaters was truly inspirational in the fact that it showed an all black debate team conquering all of their goals in a time of racial prejudice. The director did a great job in showing the audience what was happening in the 1930’s. One of the scenes that showed this the most was when Forrest Whitaker who plays James Farmer accidentally hit a white mans pig. The way the director showed this scene was a good way to show how racism was a huge part in the early 1900’s. Denzel Washington played his role to the fullest and was a major part in the notorious victory over Harvard. He taught his team well and prepared them with all the material they needed. All in all I thought this was a great movie and the actors were phenomenal. Each of these roles must have taken much time and preparation.
Inspired by a true story, "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson {played by Denzel Washington}, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of young students from a small African American college into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social moral of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional teaching methods as well as his radical political views. I feel that the movie more emphasized on the horrid times rather than the debating, more so by showing the debate team witness the lynching of an African American. This was a great movie, due to the fact that it showed how hard society was at the time, while still showing the students strive for greatness and achieve.
The Great Debaters movie dealing with the historically black Wiley College to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American south during the 1930s, when lynch mobs and Jim Crow laws abounded. The Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point at which they are able to take part in a debate with Harvard University. Henrietta Wells, the only female member of the 1930 debate team from Wiley College who participated in the first collegiate interracial debate in the United States was very strong and she definitely made the way for black female debaters. This movie definitely awaken everyone and had shown us all (black, whites, etc.) how our ancestors lived as well as what they had to go through in order to live life they way it was already preset for them. I am glad that it has changed for our generation and that we don’t have to subject ourselves with hatred and cruelty.
Mateus 1 Claudia Mateus Eng 210 Dr. Hofheimer 2/2008 Blog 3
The Great Debaters is a fabulous true story about an African American university whose dream was to have the right to debate with an interracial collage. The characters had to face the struggles of learning to deal with standing up for their beliefs in front of unwilling crowds that only looked at the color of their skin and not the power of their minds. The movie also shows that harsh reality the African Americans faced with the laws at slaying their own kind. The jury or trial had to be in order for the African Americans to be slaying. To see the debaters actually go to the most prestigious collage of law and be recognized was breath taking. The actor combination is fantastic and the plot looks very thrilling. I love law movies and I was fascinated with the plot points. What happened to the characters at the end of the movie.
The Great Debaters tells the story of Wiley College debate team in 1935. It is an uplifting, inspirational story that has no difficulty keeping the audience engrossed for the duration of the film. The viewer believes the movie is actually telling the story about a great debate team, but has many sub themes that upstage the main storyline. Not much of the movie actually deals with the debate team’s tale of underdog victory. The writer’s gives the impression that they are using the debate team’s story as a ploy to portray the experience of racism in the South. In this regard, the movie does an outstanding job of bringing the experience of racial tensions in Texas to to viewers. The focus is on how different African-Americans handle the situation. In the beginning of the movie Professor Tolson, (Denzel Washington) holds tryouts for the debate team. This part of the plotline was never really developed. Shortly after this scene, Dr. Farmer (Forrest Whitaker) hits a white man’s pig in the road. The white men call the Doctor “boy” and force him to pay twenty-five dollars for the pig. This was one of the most powerful scenes the film. It shows that the movie is more about racism than about the amazing story of the debate team. Character development is a high point of the movie; Henry (Nate Parker) is portrayed as a rebellious individual who is streetwise and has learned how the world of racism works. His was an amazing performance.
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The movie “The Great Debaters” is about the 1935 debate team from Wiley College in little ole Marshall, Texas. Denzel Washington plays a role that is a little different from his usual good cop role, but only a little. He plays Professor Melvin B. Tolson, the debate team coach and unbeknownst to the town or even his wife, a spokesman for the sharecroppers union. As you would come to expect Washington just becomes the role, so much so that he’s been nominated for a few awards. Forrest Whitaker plays James Farmer in the movie. Whether or not the real James Farmer was a bit odd is unknown but Whitakers portrayal is definitely a bit odd. Even with these two great actors in the movie the three young kids on the debate team stole the show. Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, and Denzel Whitaker (no relation) play the three kids on the debate team. If this is the talent level of these three young kids you can expect to be seeing them in the future. The emotion they display throughout the movie really draws you in. The actors really do an excellent job of portraying this important story. The movie does a great job of becoming a snap shot of that era. One of the things of the movie that will really grab your attention is that Denzel Whitaker’s character is only 14 years old and in college. This movie was great all around and is well deserved of all the nominations it’s received. If you’re a fan of Washington or movies at all you should do yourself a favor and see this movie.
The Great Debaters took place in 1935 at Wiley College Texas. Mel Tolson (Denzel Washington) is a professor who wants to encourage his students to have big dig dreams in debating. He coaches a African American debate team to victory all over the nation. I thought the movie was not a bad movie. But the title of the movie kind of throws you off. The movie had a little about the debating team, but the movie more seem to emphasize on the racism in the the 1930’s more than debating. The movie showed how the life of a African American had to deal with the troubles in society. It was weird to see Nate Parker (who played the character Henry Lowe) on the movie screen because he went to my High School at Great Bridge. The character he played was very predictable, a young kid that has no parent background being very rebellious. Nate Paker played the role very well, but his character is almost the same in any racist movie. I would recommend this movie to other people and I gave it one thumb up
The Great Debaters attempts tells the story of the Wiley College debate team and their triumphs and tribulations during 1935 era. At first glance, a viewer would believe the movie will actually tell the story about a great debate team, however; this movie had many underlying motives which tend to upstage the main storyline. This movie would be better titled the scourge of the south. Very little of the movie actually cultivates the debate team’s great victory tale. My impression was the writer used the debate team’s great story as a ploy to write about the level of racism in the South. In this aspect, the movie did an excellent job of revealing the racial tensions in Texas and how different African-Americans handles the situation. For example, in the beginning of the movie Proffesor Tolson (Denzel Washington) holds tryouts for the debate team. I felt this part of the plotline was never really developed, in contrast; shortly after this scene, Dr. Farmer (Forrest Whitaker) hits a white man’s pig in the road. The white men call the Doctor “boy” and force him to overpay for the pig. This scene was one of the most powerful moments in the film. At this point I began to view the movie as a comment on the attitude of the south, rather than the fate of the debate team.
The story does well to develop each character, Henry (Nate Parker) was a rebellious individual who has seen the world and has learned how the world of racism works. His performance was exceptional, as well as the rest of the cast.
All in all, the movie was a great story, with a little more development of the debate team sub-plot this film could have been exceptional.
Loyal , dedicated, and determined are just a few words that can describe the characters from the true story The Great Debaters. The characters at the core of the movie, James Farmer Jr., Samantha Booke and Henry Lowe all displayed these characteristics and made this phenomenal story into a very enjoyable movie. Of course the team had to face the ugliness of racism to succeed but each of them had their own internal battles to face.
James Farmer Jr. was child wise behind his years. Perhaps due to his religious upbringing and loving yet strict father he was able to attend college at the age of 14. He far exceeded the educational level of a 14 year old but at times he showed he the emotional level of any 14 year old. From the crush he immediately developed on Samantha, to the betrayal he felt as he saw her fall for Henry, to the curiosity he showed by following Melvin to the sharecroppers secret meeting, James showed he was not unlike any other 14 year old.
Samantha Booke had the honor of being the first woman to become a member of the Willey College debate team. Determined to make her mark on the team Samantha was forced into competition after the teammate Hamilton Burgess quit the team due to philosophical differences with Tolson. At times it looked like she would not succeed, mainly due to initial jitters and then the unfaithfulness of Henry. But she stood strong and overcame each obstacle thrown her way
Henry Lowe was a complex womanizing character who would not let anyone or anything stop him from reaching his goals. He also proved to be a loyal team member when after walking away from the team he came back and decided to not jump into the spotlight at the Harvard debate. By letting James have his chance at the Harvard debate he proved not only was he a good teammate but he proved he could be a good mentor to young James and eventually a reliable friend to Samantha.
“The Great Debaters” brought to light a true and inspiring story. This movie tells of a debate team who literally kicked down every obstacle that was place in its way. They wanted to make a bold declaration to the world that they were as educated as any white or black college in America. I think this movie is a great way to show today’s youth that they don’t need to revert to violence to be heard. African American’s in the early 1900’s faced far more obstacles and challenges that we face today yet this little team didn’t get their voices heard by doing any of the obscured things we do today to be seen or even heard. They made history with their intellectual minds.
Inspired by a true story, the movie the “Great Debaters” I thought was very inspirational as well as educational. It had heart and it was a well scripted intelligent movie. I found myself taking quotes from the movie such as “We do what we have to so we are able to do what we want to while we’re here.” I think that it is important to be reminded of the positive change in history and the progress that has occurred in United States. History has proved that if something needs to be done it takes effort from the people who want change. Denzel Washington played Melvin Tolson an English professor and debate team coach for Wiley College. The setting took place in Marshall Texas during the 1930’s. Slavery had been abolished however; society remained ignorant towards equality and the rights of all people. Melvin Tolsen told his debate team “I am here to help you to find, take back, and keep your righteous mind” another powerful quote used in the movie. The storyline was interesting as well as heartfelt.
The Great Debaters is the best movie of 2008 by far. It was based on a true story that took place in 1935 at Wiley College. Melvin Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, was the debating coach at the college. At the Being of the semester Professor Tolson held tryout for the debate team after school. Henry Lowe (Nate Parker) and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams) were the main debaters, while Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollet) and James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker) were the researchers. James Farmer Jr. was my favorite character. He really looked up to Professor Tolson and also his father. I loved the relationship between James Jr. and James Senior, it was very touching how close their relationship was and he wanted to make his father proud. James Jr. also had the hotts for Samantha Booke, with an e, it was so sweet that he how he tried to show off to her. Samantha was fond of Henry instead, even though he was known for drinking and playing around with other girls. The movie ended in Boston at Harvard. They were invited by the University to debate their team. Wiley College was the first black college to debate against Harvard. They were the underdog and no one thought they would win even though they were on a winning streak. They proved everyone wrong and ended up going 10 years as an undefeated team. This movie was very touching and inspirational. I recommend this movie to anyone going to the movie this weekend. (I can hook you up with some free popcorn too!)
The movie “The Great Debaters” is about Professor Melvin B. Tolson, who was a debate team coach for Wiley College which is a small college in Marshall, Texas in 1935.He puts together a debate team that comes to be a great team "hence the name".The movie entertaining, they managed to teach us something.shows some insight on how life was for african americans in the south. The story seemed to take you on a ride with the debaters as they proceeded to demolish all of their opposition. Ultimately the struggles of the debate team and their teacher pitted them in a historical meeting against a white college by the name of Harvard in which Wiley College prevailed. I personally enjoyed the movie it was informative as well as.
The Great Debaters was an excellent movie and probably one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. It is a great, uplifting, inspirational story that has no difficulty keeping the audience engrossed for the duration of the film. With the entire main story revolving around the school’s successful debate team, all the subplots and character dynamics only add more intrigue, from the romantic relationship between the characters of Samantha and Henry to the father-son relationship in the Farmer family to Mel Tolson’s struggle against the town’s authority. The underlying theme of racial oppression adds so much tension that it serves as the antagonist of the movie.
There are many different elements of the film that are handled brilliantly. One aspect is the acting from each character, with Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker providing great models for each Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker, and Jurnee Smollett to follow. It is as if with those two actors to lead the way the rest had no choice but to turn in a great performance. The acting was done so well that it alone is enough to warrant a recommendation of this movie from me.
The movie the Great Debaters was truly inspirational in the fact that it showed an all black debate team conquering all of their goals in a time of racial prejudice. The director did a great job in showing the audience what was happening in the 1930’s. One of the scenes that showed this the most was when Forrest Whitaker who plays James Farmer accidentally hit a white mans pig. The way the director showed this scene was a good way to show how racism was a huge part in the early 1900’s. Denzel Washington played his role to the fullest and was a major part in the notorious victory over Harvard. He taught his team well and prepared them with all the material they needed. All in all I thought this was a great movie and the actors were phenomenal. Each of these roles must have taken much time and preparation.
Inspired by a true story, "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson {played by Denzel Washington}, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of young students from a small African American college into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social moral of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional teaching methods as well as his radical political views. I feel that the movie more emphasized on the horrid times rather than the debating, more so by showing the debate team witness the lynching of an African American. This was a great movie, due to the fact that it showed how hard society was at the time, while still showing the students strive for greatness and achieve.
The Great Debaters movie dealing with the historically black Wiley College to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American south during the 1930s, when lynch mobs and Jim Crow laws abounded. The Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point at which they are able to take part in a debate with Harvard University. Henrietta Wells, the only female member of the 1930 debate team from Wiley College who participated in the first collegiate interracial debate in the United States was very strong and she definitely made the way for black female debaters. This movie definitely awaken everyone and had shown us all (black, whites, etc.) how our ancestors lived as well as what they had to go through in order to live life they way it was already preset for them. I am glad that it has changed for our generation and that we don’t have to subject ourselves with hatred and cruelty.
Mateus 1
Claudia Mateus
Eng 210
Dr. Hofheimer
2/2008
Blog 3
The Great Debaters is a fabulous true story about an African American university whose dream was to have the right to debate with an interracial collage. The characters had to face the struggles of learning to deal with standing up for their beliefs in front of unwilling crowds that only looked at the color of their skin and not the power of their minds. The movie also shows that harsh reality the African Americans faced with the laws at slaying their own kind. The jury or trial had to be in order for the African Americans to be slaying.
To see the debaters actually go to the most prestigious collage of law and be recognized was breath taking. The actor combination is fantastic and the plot looks very thrilling. I love law movies and I was fascinated with the plot points. What happened to the characters at the end of the movie.
The Great Debaters tells the story of Wiley College debate team in 1935. It is an uplifting, inspirational story that has no difficulty keeping the audience engrossed for the duration of the film. The viewer believes the movie is actually telling the story about a great debate team, but has many sub themes that upstage the main storyline. Not much of the movie actually deals with the debate team’s tale of underdog victory. The writer’s gives the impression that they are using the debate team’s story as a ploy to portray the experience of racism in the South. In this regard, the movie does an outstanding job of bringing the experience of racial tensions in Texas to to viewers. The focus is on how different African-Americans handle the situation. In the beginning of the movie Professor Tolson, (Denzel Washington) holds tryouts for the debate team. This part of the plotline was never really developed. Shortly after this scene, Dr. Farmer (Forrest Whitaker) hits a white man’s pig in the road. The white men call the Doctor “boy” and force him to pay twenty-five dollars for the pig. This was one of the most powerful scenes the film. It shows that the movie is more about racism than about the amazing story of the debate team. Character development is a high point of the movie; Henry (Nate Parker) is portrayed as a rebellious individual who is streetwise and has learned how the world of racism works. His was an amazing performance.
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