THE GREAT DEBATERS

India day and essay submission over the weekend meant that we didnt get our regular dose from the movie club this week, instead we got "The great debaters" on a monday evening. I'v seen this movie a few times before but still went onto watch it today, not to show off this time but out of my sheer love for the movie.

Now, to write a review the debaters' way ,

THE TOPIC -  The rise of wiley college debate team (all negroes) from underdogs to national champions, at FDR's time in the US of A, where racism was at its heights.

THE AFFIRMATIVES - RESOLVED :  Dialogues, dialogues and dialogues - build this this movie, take this movie forward, more importantly provide the entertainment quotient to the movie. dialogues like " unjust law is no law at all", " what do we do without you ?" , followed by "win"  ( to name a few ) are extremely well timed, Even the pause that james farmer takes before starting his final dialogue in the final debate is timed so beautifully. Denzel washington, obviously the 'man on fire' , forest whitaker the 'last king of scotland' , what more can we talk of them than to applaud. Interesting trivia like "lynching", about jallianwallabagh( for non indians) , henry thoureau, d h lawrence all make the movie more interesting.  More interestingly,the real name of the guy who plays james farmer is DENZEL WHITAKER, no wonder as to why he has performed so well! his other debate team mates , nate parker and jurnee smollett have also done admirably well.
 Music is subtle and adds a lot more meaning to the film.

THE "AGAINSTS" - denzel washingtion's association with the share croppers and his revolutionary role is quite hazy till the end. Also "commerial elements " like harvard changing the topic at the last moment typically reminds us of desi movies, few guessable scenes, some guessable dialogues as well (but a very few) like "she didnt walk away from u" ... everyone in the hall knew the next line ! it was "she walked away from me "

THE VERDICT - The great debaters is a truly inspirational tale and is a must watch for all moviewaalas. It is utterly thought provoking and at the same time, entertaining ! 2 thumbs up to the wiles college debate team !