The Great Debaters

I thought this might be a bit boring but I was so wrong. Denzel Washington led an inspired cast and I have never felt so involved in a film before. I can't do it justice you just have to watch it and please look at what these young people went on to do with their lives as adults because of one man, a brilliant teacher who wanted to change the future for those who were persecuted and oppressed. Absolutely brilliant!

Based on a true story at Wisley College founded in 1873 Texas for African-Americans, where Tolson taught for 24 years, a known poet, who headed a renowned debate team that lost once over 15 years. The climax at Harvard is memorable.In there later years not in the film, Tolson moved to Langston University where he spent 17 years.James Falmer Jr. helped shape the civil rights movement through nonviolent activism and worked with Martain Luther King Jr. He founded the Congress of Racial Equality.

Caught this movie by accident , what a hidden gem . Well acted great story ,fits so well with where the world is today and how far we need to go .. very thought provoking.

The film definitely drops a few balls in terms of missing out on some opportunities to ratchet up the tension and get the viewer truly involved, but it's a good watch nonetheless. As with many films, they play a bit fast and loose with the actual history, but it makes no real difference to the overall story.

I've recently read the autobiographies of Martin Luther King Jr and Gandhi so it was wonderful to get some more of the history of the time - and this was loads more compelling than Gandhi's autobiography.There is nothing to complain about here at all. Pure class and quality throughout. It could have been a little thin on characters and relationships with so much to say about the context but it was very satisfying on that front too.

Denzel Washington and Forrest Wittaker at their best. Also brilliant young actors. This movie really shows what a good teacher should be - inspiring. Teaching young black people to be leaders and to never give up.

Denzel is definitely one of my favourite actors. I sat with my daughter to watch it. Some scenes are disturbing - I cannot imagine the horrible racism then (or now) that people face. However, it was not easy to follow the flow of the movie. We watched it to the end. It shows the power of words to change minds and society (that's deep!!).

A true story set in 1930s Texas, when apartheid-style laws and lynch mobs were still commonplace. At Wiley College, English teacher and rising poet Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) puts together and drills an all-black team of students to participate in the annual student debating contests. They must fight hard to even compete at local and eventually national levels. Suffice to say, many excellent arguments are debated along the way, as each team member finds their voice and confidence. One young team member is James L. Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker ... No relation to either!), who in went on to co-found the Congress of Racial Equality).Great storytelling that is both captivating and inspiring.