The Great Debaters (2007) 8/10

Starring : Denzel Washington, Forrest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker
Director : Denzel Washington
Running Time : 128 mins

Melvin B Tolson (Washington) is a professor at Wiley college in Texas in 1935, where he inspires some of his students to form a debate team, and in turn they become the first black college to challenge Harvard to debate in the national championships, but Tolson controversial political views threaten to overshadow any successes his debate team may be able to achieve.

This is a well executed drama that takes a group of disparate characters and draws them together through one man, Melvin B Tolson. Washington acts and directs well in this political drama which shows how prejudice could be overcome even as far back as the 1930s, and the supporting cast, including Forest Whitaker, are mostly likeable as they follow Washington and prove their worth through political debate.

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